Weekend Dining

Jon's parents were in town this weekend and when they visit, we tend to eat out. We usually reach into the "Greatest Hits" file and proceed to make reservations. So we decided on The Village Pub for Friday night's dinner, and Tamarine for Saturday.

• The Village Pub - Jon and I have been here several times before, and have never been disappointed. I love the food, the service and the ambiance here. The four starters at the table were: sweetbreads (me); lettuce salad (Jon); Caesar salad (FIL); and cabbage soup (MIL). I usually don't order sweetbreads because it kinda grosses Jon out. But this place is the exception. The dish is so delicious here, I would gladly tell Jon to sit at another table if he can't handle my sweetbread-consumption. Theu are crispy on the outside, and velvety smooth on the inside. The poached egg on top makes the appetizer even more rich, but you won't hear me complaining.
  
  Our entrees were: maple brined porch chops (me); pub burger (Jon); steak frites (FIL); and poached sole (MIL). Thumbs-up all around. Note: Jon likes the food at The Village Pub, but thinks it can be a bit heavy. So his entree is usually the burger off of the Pub Menu.
  
  So after we were done enjoying our entrees, the GM stopped by our table. He mentioned that he'd read my blog; he actually remembered Jon's name; he referred to some comments I had posted about previous dining experiences at The Village Pub; and he even got to talking about South Carolina with the in-laws. As if all of that wasn't nice enough, he even offered to comp our desserts! My father-in-law was way impressed by all of the above.
  
  I ended up being the only one to order dessert — the hot chocolate, served with pomegranate marshmallows and three miniature palmiers. (Note: The chocolate souffle here is completely awesome, but I decided to branch out and try a different dessert.) The hot chocolate, which is made with Valrhona, was so good. Thick, creamy and not overly sweet. At first, I thought the marshmallows were just ehhh ... But that was when I was just popping them, straight-up, in my mouth. Once I actually dunked them in the hot chocolate, the flavors totally came together and made sense. The palmiers were delightly crispy and buttery. And, really, who doesn't love miniaturized sweets?
  
  
• Tamarine - Saturday night's dinner was just as satisfying as Friday's, although the cuisine and the restaurant were so different. Jon's parents have been to Tamarine a couple of times before. We decided to go back again because they've enjoyed it so much in the past, and there aren't a lot of Vietnamese dining options where they live (Hilton Head Island, SC).
  
  To start, we ordered the crispy mushroom rolls; crab and garlic noodles; and salt and pepper calamari. For our main course, we shared the shaking beef (of course); hoisin lamb chops (the chops themselves are fine, but I really love the sweet potato fries that they're served with); lemongrass bass (Jon thinks it's fun just to say it); and the curried long beans. It was just the right amount of food for all four of us.
  
  And, of course, I saved room for dessert! I have such a soft spot for fried bananas because it was my favorite dessert growing up. My mom made it all the time. So if it's on a menu (and this is very important: no coconut in the batter!), I am all over it.

We ate so well this weekend. And now it's back to frozen pizzas ... *sigh*

Tanglewood, Santana Row

When my sister heard that her absolute favorite server from the The Grill on the Alley (in the San Jose Fairmont) had been hired at Tanglewood, she immediately made a reservation for the Santana Row eatery.

Now I have to say, I haven't had the greatest dining experiences at the upscale shopping center. Food sometimes seems far too pricey for what you get. Stunning decor, but service is lacking. A lot of the restaurants in Santana Row are offshoots of well-known/successful local establishments (e.g., Chris Yeo's Straits Cafe and Sino, Bradley Ogden's Yankee Pier).

Tanglewood comes with a nice pedigree as well. The restaurant's proprietor is Roland Passot -- who is behind San Francisco's highly regarded La Folie. And Chef Quentin Topping is a graduate of Harvard University as well as the California Culinary Academy.

When I went to the Tanglewood web site the afternoon of our dinner reservation, I spotted a buttermilk-fried quail dish that sounded incredible. Did I mention that it comes with honey-butter mini biscuits? Drool. Sadly, it wasn't available the night my sister and I were there. But they had another quail option, served over grits and with a small salad topped with a fried quail egg. Although the quail itself wasn't fried, it was still quite tasty. And those grits were awesome. I could have eaten an entire bowl.

My sister opted for the Ahi salad that I don't remember much about. All I know is, she practically licked her plate clean. So it scored high marks with her.

Given that the Chef spent some time in the Boston area, I decided that my main entree should be a "Real New England Lobster Roll" (as the menu describes it).

I was a bit hesitant because the roll comes dressed, instead of naked, but the lobster mixture was delicious. There were chunks of sweet lobster meat, crunchy chopped celery, creamy mayo, and even a hint of curry. It was a nice combination of flavors and textures. Oh, and they did the bread right (i.e., a buttery New England-style hot dog bun). The onion rings were also very good.

My sister ordered the chicken, which was sort of a take on the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It was served over mashed sweet potatoes, with tiny marshallows sprinkled on the plate (even toasted -- a sweet detail!) and some cranberry sauce. Tasty. But I looked at her plate after she finished off her meal, and there were just too many bones to have to pick through. I don't like to work that hard to get some meat.

Next up were the desserts: a triple-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for me, and an apple tart with salty caramel ice cream for her. They were good, but her ice cream was the only stand-out on both of our plates. (That's a little glass of cold apple cider in the photo below.)

The service throughout the evening was top-notch. The server my sister had come to see was actually off the night we dined at Tanglewood (bummer!), but I'm sure he couldn't have done much better than our waitress did. This restaurant, by the way, is beautiful. Dark wood, patterned silk upholstery on the banquettes, and this cool sueded table liner (instead of the usual white paper that sits on top of most restaurant tables). I loved watching the kitchen's sliding glass doors -- such a simple idea, yet it makes so much sense (you get to peek into the kitchen, the servers can see each other and there's no risk of bumping as someone comes in and someone else goes out).

Okay, so is there any downside of this place? Yes. The portions are small. And they're not cheap. My sister and I are not big eaters, yet we found ourselves still hungry after our three-course meal (that was just over $100, pre-tip). If I go back to Tanglewood, I might have to order a couple of appetizers in fill me up. I'm sure they'll be delicious, but whether or not the bill will be worth it is another question.

Tanglewood
334 Santana Row, #1000
San Jose, CA
(408) 244-0464

John Bentley's, Woodside

After talking about going to John Bentley's for months and months, we finally ate there this past weekend. Located in an old firehouse, the restaurant is quite charming. The front dining room isn't very large. The focal point of the space is the rather modern fireplace that I really liked (you know, the whole juxtaposition between old and new thing). We were seated in the outdoor-ish dining room. I think it's technically a porch, but it totally doesn't feel like it because of all the enclosures and heat and comfy banquette seating that they have going on back there.

To start, I had one of the evening's specials: figs stuffed with blue cheese, served with greens and crostini. I could have done with a little less cheese in my figs, but it was fine (I spread some of the excess on the bread). Jon had the Dungeness crab cakes, which were tasty, but hardly special in my book. (Note: Maybe I've just never had outstanding crab cakes -- even in Baltimore -- so I don't know when it's really impressive and when it's not.)

Moving on.

For my main course, I enjoyed another special: halibut served over wild rice with green beans in a delicous beurre blanc. Loved it. The fish was so tender and flaky. Jon ordered the roast rack of lamb with scalloped parsnips and a grain mustard sauce. Parsnips! What a nice change from the usual potatoes. Very very good.

Finally, for dessert, I went with the panna cotta with strawberry and mango sauce, while Jon chose the apple tart with (some flavor I can't remember) ice cream. His was better, hands down. The tart was fairly large in diameter, but it was also pretty flat. There was just a thin layer of sliced apples in the puff pastry shell. Excellent. My panna cotta was a little too soft for my taste; sure, I like it creamy, but firmer (more gelatin, please!).

All in all -- food, service, ambiance -- it was a good meal, but nothing spectacular. For the most part, the dishes seemed fairly safe.

Although I'm glad we finally tried it, I think the next time we feel like spending $150 on dinner, we might have to drive right past John Bentley's and over to Village Pub instead.

John Bentley's
2991 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-4988

St. Michael's Alley, Palo Alto

Okay, this is going to be short and sweet ... Because I'm in the middle of working on several freelance articles ... And I wanted to mention this little eatery, but don't have time for anything too detailed.

I met up with some friends for brunch at St. Michael's Alley on Saturday, and since it was the first visit for everyone, we all commented on what a cute place it is. (Note: I like that they actually offer brunch both weekend days, and not just on Sunday.) The dining room isn't very big, but there are a couple of outdoor tables and seating at the bar as well.

Dishes enjoyed at our table: cinnamon-pear pancakes (the daily special); fruit sundae (which was basically a fruit salad, served in a bowl -- not a parfait glass, as I thought it would be -- with granola and yogurt); and Blue Monkey pancakes (blueberry and banana combined). All were delicious, and not too pricey. My short stack of pancakes and a side of crispy bacon came to about $10.

The restaurant wasn't too crowded when we showed up (which was good for us, since they don't accept brunch reservations), but it started to fill up around noon. On a sunny morning, when people aren't huddled inside their warm homes underneath a pile of blankets, I imagine that St. Michael's Alley probably attracts even more diners looking for a tasty meal, as well as lovely ambiance and service.

St. Michael's Alley
806 Emerson Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 326 2530

Manka's, Inverness

Okay, this is going to be a LOOOONG one!

When we planned our anniversary trip to Manka’s, we only reserved dinner at the lodge’s restaurant one night (Friday) because we thought it would be lame to eat there more than once -- despite the fact that we had only heard/read good things about the restaurant.

Well, it turned out that breakfast at Manka’s was complimentary both mornings we were there because they had a chef-in-training in the kitchen. And c’mon, who can pass up a free three-course breakfast!

But wait, dinner on Friday got such rave reviews, we also decided we needed to eat there again on Saturday.

Yes. We ended up eating FOUR meals at Manka’s during our weekend there. So call us lame. I don’t care because we were so frickin’ well fed. I got over the whole exploring other places thing after biting into their delicious biscuits at Friday’s dinner. So I’ll back up a bit and start there… making my way through all of the culinary delights at Manka’s.

Friday Night
The aforementioned biscuits. They tasted like biscuits I had had before. Bite after bite, I kept trying to place it. Finally, we realized that Manka’s biscuits were similar to the famous Meetinghouse biscuits! They served them with a scoop of spiced butter, but we barely spread any on. The biscuits are so good, you don’t need any butter! And coming from me, that’s really saying something.

Next up was the warm beet puree that was poured over a chilled garlic panna cotta. Yeah, that’s right -- garlic panna cotta. By itself, maybe it would have been weird; but combined with that puree, it was divine.

Then we had the salt cod cakes that featured a crispy exterior, flaky fish, and chunks of warm potato. Delicious. Even though I’m not a salad person, I even liked the arugula and tomatoes on the side. Yes, this restaurant could do no wrong.

The palate cleanser was basically a cucumber sorbet. It did its job.

Then we had the meat dish: a lamb shank that was shared. The server doled out a bit for each of us, then left the remainder on the table for us to fight over. The meat just fell off of that bone, and the beans on the side were quite tasty. There was also a yummy lamb meatball. Since I opted for the cheese course, I graciously allowed Jon to eat more of the lamb.

The cheese course consisted of two goat cheeses that I do not remember the names of. Sorry. One was a tad too salty for my taste, I do remember that. But I loved the figs poached in port and the candied/fried walnuts. Yeah, who wouldn’t love candied/fried anything!

Finally, we got to the dessert: upside-down plum cake with freshly whipped cream on top. One server presented the cake, the other followed him around with a gigantic bowl of whipped cream. He made sure that whatever dollop he gave you was sufficient before moving on to another table. That dessert was simply awesome.

Saturday Morning
Jon and I started with a pot of black tea each. Then we were served small glasses of fresh Gravenstein apple juice. So naturally sweet and good.

The first food item we got was a wheatberry porridge with chopped apples, served beside a pool of dairy milk. It sounded very hippie-dippie, but tasted great. In fact, I need to learn how to make this at home.

Coming in second was a plate of goat cheese soufflé and scrambled eggs. Sure, anyone can make scrambled eggs, but that soufflé was a thing of beauty. The texture was perfect – crisp on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. That soufflé didn’t even stand a chance with Jon, who does not consider himself a fan of goat cheese.

We ended our breakfast with a wedge of waffle (about a quarter the size of a standard round waffle) that was topped with honey syrup and those same candied/fried walnuts from dinner. Apparently, they know they’re going to have satisfied customers if they let them walk out the restaurant with memories of those candied/fried walnuts on their minds/palates.

Saturday Night
So I should mention that Manka’s menu changes daily, depending on what the kitchen gathers from local farms and such. Which is why we were cool with coming here two nights in a row; we knew we’d get something completely different -- but hopefully just as delicious.

Jon decided to go vegetarian on Saturday, while I stuck to the regular menu. My meal started with a mussel soup, while his was butternut squash. While both were good, I preferred his.

Next, I enjoyed squab served atop escarole with chunks of toasted bread thrown in. Jon’s was pretty much the same dish, minus the bird. And I believe he had tomatoes on his plate. For the third course, I was served a chunk of pork belly with haricot vert and figs; no bacon for Jon.

The palate cleanser was billed as “an ice of Inverness apples” but it was more like apple-flavored whipped cream. Good spices (cinnamon, cardamom) in it as well.

The main course is where mine and Jon’s meals diverged the most: I had venison with fingerling potatoes, while he had special dish that consisted of lobster mushrooms, zucchini and house-made spaetzle. As good as mine was, I thought his was even better.

The rest of our dinners were the same: We shared a cheese platter with goat’s and cow’s milk cheese. I really liked that Humboldt Fog! It was rich and creamy, not too tangy, slightly sweet even. I have a feeling it would be great when paired with anything (Manka’s served it with quince).

Finally, we were treated to a slice each of the flourless chocolate torte, with poached pears and mascarpone. Delicious!

Sunday Morning
Our final meal at Manka’s started with fresh-pressed orange juice. Then a plate of dairy cheese came to the table. I loved the figs with huckleberry sauce that accompanied the cheese. I could have easily eaten an entire bowl of the fruits.

Next came a poached egg served over creamy polenta, with two strips of bacon on the side. I have to say, usually I prefer fried polenta; the creamy version doesn’t do much for me. But this was the best polenta I’ve ever had. It was great by itself, but add in that salty and crispy bacon, and the flavors and textures were superb.

Breakfast ended much the same way that dinner on Friday night did: with a plum cake and whipped cream. The nighttime version had a hint of almond to it; other than that, they seemed quite similar. I liked it the first time it was served to us, and still liked it the second time.

So our stomachs were very happy all weekend, thanks to the kitchen at Manka’s!

P.S. I mentioned that breakfast was free both mornings, but dinner was not. Friday night set us back $58 per person (excluding the optional cheese course); the fixed priced for Saturday was $88. I really don't know why there's such a huge increase. Except that the restaurant seems to be busier on Saturdays. Sure, there were more meat items on the menu the second night, but Jon went veggie anyway, and it wasn't $30 more in quantity or quality.

P.P.S. I tried to take photos at dinner, but the lighting was too poor. And of course, using a flash would have been a faux pas. The breakfast photos turned out a little better because I put my dishes directly underneath the small lamp on our table.

Manka's
30 Callendar Way
Inverness, CA
(415) 669-1034

Flea St. Cafe, Menlo Park

So it's got a strange name (Pulgas = fleas in Spanish). And it doesn't look like much from the outside. But Flea St. Cafe is one of the most charming restaurants I've experienced in the Peninsula.

Jon and I went with his parents to Flea St. on a recent Friday night. Our waiter was over-the-top enthusiastic about all of the items on the menu. He reminded me of that character Alec Baldwin played on "Friends" -- the one who is so in love with EVERYTHING. "The Chef is a genius!" "This is magnificent!" "That is exquisite!" (But the waiter managed to be entertaining/endearing instead of annoying.)

To start, Jon's dad and I both had the heirloom tomato soup with a puffed pastry crown.* It was delicious! I loved the cilantro in the soup, and it wasn't too creamy or rich. And the pastry was light and flaky. Jon had the blue corn almond vegetable fritto misto. I had just a bite of his and it was very good; the blue corn made for a nice crust on the veggies. Jon's mom went with the red beet goat cheese ravioli, which is not actually pasta. The ravioli's shell is made of thin shavings of beet, making for a gorgeous presentation.

For our main courses, it went down like this: I ordered the lamb special (served two ways -- osso bucco and thinly sliced tenderloin); Jon had the pork chop; his mom had the halibut cartoccio; and his dad had the grilled bavette. It was all so very good. I didn't finish my lamb, however, because I was saving room for dessert! (Jon's dad ate the leftovers the next day and the dish was still terrific.)

While Jon's dad abstained from dessert, Jon ordered the vanilla gelato served with a Russian tea cake cookie (the cookie was good, the gelato was -- eh -- vanilla gelato, not my favorite dessert). His mom chose wisely, ordering the bread pudding with rum sauce. And I enjoyed the rose petal lavender angel food cake served with strawberries and lemon mousse. Yum!

Since Jon's parents only visit us a couple of times a year, we try to take them to restaurants we really like. This was a little risky because neither of us had previously dined at Flea St. Cafe. But the place did not disappoint, and we all walked out at the end of the meal with full bellies and big smiles.

Flea St. Cafe
3607 Alameda de las Pulgas
Menlo Park, CA
(650) 854-1226

* By the way, the BEST tomato soup in puff pastry I have ever had was at Bistro Jeanty in Napa. I believe it's also on the menu at Jeanty at Jack's in San Francisco.

Madison and Fifth, Palo Alto

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a "New York-style" restaurant had opened in downtown Palo Alto. Since then, I've passed by Madison and Fifth several times and it's always been really busy. So last night, Jon and I finally decided to check it out.

The decor is colorful, but certainly not NYC-hip (you would never find Carrie Bradshaw in a place like this). The walls are covered with murals of NYC scenes, and lots of mirrors (this came in handy when the young, female hostesses needed to check themselves out). We had the option of dining indoors or out, but we went with the former because the patio-style dining is just awkward here. Basically, they have a half dozen or so tables for two along the sidewalk. One member of the party has to sit with their back to the street, and there's no barrier between the diner and the public strolling by. (They should take notes from Niebaum-Coppola down the street; I believe they have planters or some other nice barrier set up.)

So what is this "New York-style" food? Basically Italian-American. And the menu was pretty extensive -- divided up into salads, appetizers, pastas, pizza, entrees and daily specials. Here's how our meals broke down:

• Gratin of Pear Carpaccio - Thinly sliced pears, crowned with crushed walnuts, asiago, honey-vinaigrette and arugula. The dish was served slightly warm, so the cheese was good and melted.
  
• Caprese - In addition to the usual mozzarella and tomato, the salad included avocado and roasted red peppers.
  
• Pumpkin Risotto - Served in a small gourd filled with creamy risotto. There were chunks of lobster meat, asparagus and a few slices of black truffles as well.
  
• Steak - I didn't notice how this was described on the menu, but when the plate arrived at the table, it included slices of meat and a cabbage salad piled on top of a large, crispy potato pancake.

This was a heavy meal, and the portions were generous. In terms of tastiness, Jon may have put it best: "None of the dishes was better than the sum of its parts." We liked all of the components of the dishes, so the meal was good; but we weren't wowed by any of the combined flavors and textures. I will say that this place gets an "A" for presentation. (Sorry for the terrible photo up there. I only had my camera phone to work with last night.)

The service was also great. Our water glasses were never empty, plates were removed promptly. And our waitress was super-friendly. I'll even forgive her for mispronouncing several of the specials (e.g., "four-grah" instead of "fwah-grah").

When I was reading through the menu at the beginning of our dinner, I mentioned to Jon that there were so many things that sounded good, we would surely have to come back. But once the bill came, I had second thoughts about repeat visits. Our total was about $100 and I admit I was slightly surprised. It just didn't feel like a triple-digit meal (or restaurant) to me.

Using the SF Chronicle's rating system, I'd give Madison and Fifth 2 stars overall (good) and 4 dollar signs (expensive, more than $25 for entrees). Oh, and by the time we finished our dinner, the place was nearly full and the noise level had reached about 3 bells (talking normally gets difficult).

Madison and Fifth
367 University Avenue
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 323-3900

(Note: The restaurant's business cards indicate that their web site is www.madandfifth.com, but as of today, the site isn't up.)

New-ish Restaurant in San Carlos

When downtown San Carlos' A Tavola suffered a small kitchen fire and relocated to Redwood City in June 2005, the move was expected to be a temporary one. But that status was soon changed to permanent. Then in March 2006, Town opened up in the old A Tavola space. (Both are operated by the same team, and they are sister restaurants to Milagros in RWC and Nola in Palo Alto.)

According to Town's Open Table profile, the restaurant "features hand cut steaks and chops, the freshest seafood, local organic produce, hand-crafted cocktails, and a wine list with a focus on California, Washington and Oregon wines."

Town
716 Laurel Street
San Carlos, CA
(650) 595-3003

Woodside Bakery and Cafe, Woodside

We were looking for a convenient late-lunch yesterday, so we headed up the hill to the Woodside Bakery and Cafe. Although I have stopped in many times for a pastry or dessert, my previous dining experience here was limited to one dinner. (It was a fine dinner, but not that memorable to be honest. If only I had a food blog back then to record what I ate/thought!)

So anyway... We sat inside yesterday, as we thought the rain was going to come pouring down any minute. (On a sunny day, the patio in the back is a great spot to enjoy an iced beverage and a sweet snack.) There were very few tables left when we were seated, and the bakery side of the space had quite a line of people. The restaurant's cuisine is Italian -- with a good selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and pastas to choose from. I went with one of the daily specials: quiche with a cup of mushroom and spinach soup, as well as a side of Caesar salad, for about $11. Not a bad deal.

When the order arrived at the table, I was a little surprised by how small the wedge of quiche was, and how large the salad portion was. I immediately got started on the hot soup, which was awesome -- rich, creamy, chock-full of garlic and bits of mushroom. The quiche was okay (I wanted more crust!), as was the salad.

Jon ordered a sandwich, which was served on yummy housemade foccaccia. And our friend Josh opted for the asparagus soup (which he raved about) and a side of Caesar with grilled chicken.

After lunch, I checked out the cookies, pastries, cakes and pies. I finally decided on a slice of apricot pie, which I warmed up at home later in the evening. I put it in the oven for a few minutes (a microwave would have ruined the crust) and it was delicious.

Between the restaurant and the bakery, I think the latter is the stronger/better offering. Despite a lackluster lunch yesterday, the Woodside Bakery and Cafe still remains one of my favorite Peninsula places for breads and sweets... and now soups.

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

Update on Restaurant James Randall, LG

Thinking of hitting Restaurant James Randall (see previous post) for lunch this week? Not so fast! It turns out, the Los Gatos eatery is now closed for a kitchen remodel. The work is expected to take most of the month, and no re-opening date has been determined.

So if you didn't try RJR while it was open these past few weeks, you'll have to wait a few more.

UPDATE: RJR re-opened in mid-June. (Read the re-opening post.)

New Restaurant in Los Gatos

Restaurant James Randall opened about three weeks ago in downtown Los Gatos, taking over the old La Maisson Du Croissant location. The small space seats 24; an additional 12 seats will be available outside (weather permitting, of course).

According to their web site, Restaurant James Randall offers "a fresh seasonal menu of delicious comfort food." It looks like the menu changes on a weekly basis. The restaurant is owned by Brenda Hammond, and her son is in charge of the kitchen. Ross Hanson is a Saratoga High School graduate who trained at the California Culinary Academy. Further family connections: The eatery is named after Hammond's late brother, and her daughter's artwork will grace the walls.

While Restaurant James Randall is only open for lunch right now, dinner -- as well as beer/wine service -- will commence soon.

Restaurant James Randall
303 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, CA
(408) 395-4441

Stanford Grill, Stanford

After our visit to the driving range yesterday morning, I was famished. So I convinced Jon to make a stop at the Stanford Grill -- located on the world-renowned Stanford Golf Course.

Since the restaurant caters mainly to golfers and it's got the Stanford name attached to it, I was expecting a schmancy clubhouse-like experience. But not so. This place is one step above a dorm cafeteria in terms of ambiance. When we arrived, the place was fairly empty so we grabbed a table overlooking the putting green. (Orders are taken at the table.)

We noticed that the menu indicated that breakfast is only served until 11am. It was about 11:30 already, but we still had the option of choosing from the either the breakfast or lunch menu. (Maybe with the time change they were being more flexible about the breakfast/lunch thing?)

It worked out well because Jon opted for a breakfast item (fried egg sandwich), while I ordered a lunch dish (mushroom raviolis). Jon's sandwich was really, really good. He replaced the ham with bacon, which is ALWAYS a good move in my book. His meal came with a side of fresh fruit or hash browns and he went with the less healthy of the two (again, I support this decision -- you can't go wrong with fried potato items). The potatoes were nice and crispy. Delicious!

The handmade raviolis were also tasty. They were filled with porcini and topped with slices of crimini, portabello and porcino mushrooms. I was glad that the vermouth and cream reduction sauce wasn't too thick and overwhelming. I would have liked a little more sundried tomato in my bowl, but that's a minor gripe. I still scarfed down the pasta (did I mention that I was famished?).

The prices were reasonable, with our total -- including a drink each -- coming to about $20. On a sunny day, I imagine the patio overlooking the 18th hole would be a fantastic place to hang out and enjoy a good meal. But even on a chilly day, with the clouds warning of even more rain to come, the Stanford Grill was a solid dining choice.

(Note: Although the golf course is private, the Grill, putting green and pro shop are open to the public.)

Stanford Grill
198 Junipero Serra Boulevard
Stanford, CA
(650) 325-4427

Little Store Restaurant, Woodside

During last week's drive up to Alice's, I noticed the Little Store Restaurant for the first time. Jon, being an avid bicyclists, had rode past the place many times. He had asked around about it, and gotten positive feedback. So we decided to check it out on Saturday night.

Just past the main intersection in Woodside (where you'll find Robert's and Buck's), lies this rustic spot marked by an old Model A Ford parked in front of it. The building -- a historic landmark -- has been around since 1902. Yes, it actually was a general store in a previous life; it was also a gas station in the 1960s.

Now, when you step inside the Little Store, you'll find about ten tables topped with red-and-white checkered oilcloth (kid-friendly!). The bar area has a half dozen or so stools, and you can easily watch the TV from there. (The night we went, the cooks were fixated on a soccer match.) The restaurant's vibe is warm, cozy and laid-back. Our waitress -- the only waitress -- was super-friendly, and greeted everyone who walked in like an old friend.

The menu at the Little Store includes all-American classics (burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, pastas, salads), as well as a few Mexican dishes (burritos, quesadillas). For our first visit here, I opted for the Southern fried chicken and Jon went with a Rodeo Burger (bacon, cheddar, beer-battered onion rings, barbecue sauce). Both of our entrees came with a side of crispy fries. My plate also included a pile of lima beans, corn and peas -- just buttery enough to make me consume all of my vegetables (not a common occurrence for me).

We gave our entire meal a thumbs-up. In addition to the good food and service, the prices were quite reasonable. Our bill was about $40, including drinks (an Oreo shake for Jon, hot apple cider for me) and a yummy slice of Key Lime Pie. The dessert menu features a few pies, but is mostly comprised of ice-cream treats. There's also a good beer and wine selection. And, this being Woodside, why not order an Angus hot dog with a glass of Moet?

Little Store Restaurant
3340 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-8110

Alice's Restaurant, Woodside

"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant..."

Although it may not be THE Alice's that Arlo Guthrie sang about (that one is in Massachusetts), this Woodside establishment has been packing them in for over half a century. The restaurant's wooden structure -- located at the top of Skyline Boulevard -- is actually about 100 years old. But it started out as a general store, and was later turned into a restaurant in the 1950s. In the '60s, Alice Taylor purchased it and renamed the spot. It has since changed ownership a couple more times, yet maintains its homey and rustic feel.

The diners here run the gamet, from families to young college students to bikers. Jon and I recently took the in-laws here.

I ordered the Joe's Special -- scrambled eggs with ground beef, spinach, onions, mushrooms and cheese served with a biscuit and hash browns. Although it was good, after seeing everyone else's reaction to their sandwiches, I think I should have picked something from the lunch menu instead. Jon's dad had the tuna melt; his mom opted for a turkey sandwich; and Jon couldn't resist the BLT. They each raved about their food.

We also ordered some garlic fries and beer-battered onion rings. Delicious! Often, garlic fries are heavy on the garlic, but the actual texture of the fries is overlooked. Alice's, however, were nice and crispy.

The next time we make the trip here, I think I'll try the BMW burger -- bacon, sauteed mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce and jack cheese. Mmmm... Quite a few menu items make reference to motorcycles, a nod to many of Alice's loyal patrons. The curvy road leading you to the restaurant is a big draw for riders.

Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Boulevard
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-0303

Oak City Bar & Grill, Menlo Park

On a scale of 1-10, I would give Oak City a 4 overall. The food and service just don't justify the expense.

• The Food
  Jon ordered a glass of shiraz, spinach salad with pears, fish'n'chips and a side of mac'n'cheese. I ordered a pot of tea, ahi tuna tartare and lamb chops. There was nothing special about any of our dishes, except the mac'n'cheese gratin. Bubbling underneath the crunchy garlic herb croutons was a satisfying mixture of radiatori, white cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan.
  
• The Prices
  Our total bill was about $100, and -- considering that the food was just okay -- it definitely was not worth it. To put this in perspective: When we dined at Range in San Francisco a few weeks ago, we enjoyed excellent food, more food even, and for about the same cost.
  
• The Service
  I realize that servers can have a bad day, but I noticed that the table next to us (a middle-aged couple) received better service. Our waitress didn't share any of the specials with us; our side of mac'n'cheese came as we were FINISHING our entrees (my guess is she overlooked that order); and she didn't offer to box up any of the food left on our plates (despite the fact that most of my entree remained). Maybe I'm just being nit-picky here, but I expected more from the service. I expected to feel welcome in the restaurant.
  
• The Ambiance
  I actually really liked the overall design of Oak City. Only the tree mural on the far left wall seemed out of place in the otherwise elegant space.

While my favorite part of a dinner out is usually the dessert course, we skipped it last night because we just wanted to get out. And THAT is saying a lot about our experience here.

Oak City Bar & Grill
1029 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA
(650) 321-6882

The Grill on the Alley, San Jose

For the second year in a row, our company dinner was held at The Grill in the Fairmont Hotel. Last year, due to a flight delay coming back from Las Vegas, Jon and I arrived late. This year, we were present for the entire meal. ALL FIVE HOURS OF IT.

Now, I'm not sure how you normally eat, but FIVE HOURS of eating and drinking is a lot in my book. SEVEN COURSES, each paired with a fine wine. Here was the eating itinerary:

First Course
Osetra Caviar Plate served with Garnishes and Blini
Comtes, Taittinger, De Champagne Rose, Reims, 1996

Second Course
Smoked Salmon and Sturgeon served with Terragon Butter and Garlic Toast
Joseph Phelps Ovation, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2000

Third Course
Portobello Mushroom Ravioli served with Kobe Beef a la Bolognese
Ambullneo, Bulldog Reserve, Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, 2003

Fourth Course
Magret of Moskovey Duck, served with Five Peppercorn Sauce Flambe Armagnac
Turley, Dusi Vineyard, Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2003

Cranberry Sorbet with Skyy Melon and Lemon Float

Fifth Course
Main Lobster with Truffle Butter Sauce
Chauteau Mouton Rothschild, Bordeaux, 2002

Sixth Course
Mixed Green Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette and Cheese Platter

Dessert
Traditional Buche de Noel
Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, 1999

It was a ridiculous amount of food and wine -- all so very good. Jon doesn't eat caviar, so I got to double-up on the first course. Although the lobster was sweet and delicious, my favorite course was the ravioli. And the refreshing cranberry sorbet palate-cleanser was also especially yummy.

The only thing that disappointed was the Buche de Noel. Growing up, my mom would bring these French cakes home during the holidays; the one served at The Grill barely resembled what I'm familiar with. Traditionally, the cake is made of a sheet of genoise that is spread with mocha or chocolate buttercream, then rolled into a log shape. The Grill's version did have a layer of sponge cake, but it was wrapped around three flavors of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, coffee). And rather than just having meringue mushrooms as a garnish, this buche was completely covered in meringue (I was expecting chocolate frosting). It was pretty and elegant, but wasn't quite right to me. (Other people at the dinner LOVED it.) My disappointment in the dessert itself didn't stop me from enjoying the awesome dessert wine, of course.

I think I'll be ready to eat again in 48 hours.

The Grill
172 South Market Street
San Jose, CA
(408) 294-2244

The Village Pub, Woodside

Last Friday night, we headed up the road to Woodsiiiiide! Okay, I doubt that anyone living in the upscale town would actually approve of this urbanized pronunciation. Residents here include Larry Ellison, Neil Young, Steve Jobs, Shirley Temple and Koko the gorilla (the one who knows sign language).

In the only part of Woodside that actually seems to have anything going on, sits The Village Pub. With dark wood, boxed-beam ceilings, deep-red upholstery and a big fireplace, the space has a club-like feel to it. Cozy yet sophisticated. Although business casual attire is preferred, when my husband and I dined here for the first time a few months ago, the first thing I noticed was a woman at the bar wearing riding boots. (They're big into horses here.)

On our second visit, Jon was hoping they would have the same appetizer special he had previously enjoyed: an heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad. But it was no ordinary tomato and mozzarella dish. This one was prepared table-side (they wheel a cart over to you), with the server tearing up fresh basil leaves on the spot. And the cheese? It was flown in THAT morning from Italy. I didn't actually get to sample this appetizer because Jon ate it ALL up. So I can only assume it was excellent.

Unfortunately, they were not offering that salad this time around. So Jon opted for a half-order of the gnocchi and I chose the sweetbreads. Before either of these items came to the table, the waiter brought us an amuse bouche of tuna tartare with artichoke puree. Delicious. We were equally satisfied with our starters, both of which were quite rich. The crispy sweetbreads were served with a poached egg on top of a pile of frisee, small chunks of pancetta and a brown-butter vinaigrette. Jon's truffled potato gnocchi was accompanied by mushrooms and a parsley root sauce.

Next came another complimentary treat: small espresso-size cups of fennel soup with poached lobster. I don't even like fennel much, but this was yummy. I wish I could say the same of my entree; I chose the monkfish, which was a bit dry. (The last time we were here, I had a wonderful grilled leg of lamb.) Jon chose better: his daube of beef, served with horseradish and a cauliflower mousse, was awesome.

But, it all worked out well in the end: Because I didn't finish most of my entree, I had plenty of room left for dessert. We ordered the warm chocolate souffle (which serves two and takes about 20 minutes to prepare) and the apple-butter beignets. We easily finished off both dishes.

The service here is excellent -- with silverware constantly changed out, water glasses constantly refilled, the knowledgeable and friendly server checking in on you often. The place does get busy, so reservations are recommended. If you can't get a table in the main dining area, there's always the bar... That is, as long as you can still order the amazing souffle over there.

The Village Pub
2967 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-9888