The Refuge - San Carlos

If you love pastrami, the Refuge is the place to go.  Another plus, they have over a 100 beers, Belgian beers, and upwards of 20 on tap everyday.

A colleague of our who grew in New York was impressed with their Pastrami sandwich - I guess there isn't a bigger compliment than that!

OK - so on to the stuff that counts. Pastrami is the way to go. If it isn't clear from this post, and their website, GET THE PASTRAMI! There are a few different combinations to choose from depending on what you like in your sandwich, and they are not stingy with the pickles. The pastrami is the real deal. It is moist and tender, one bite and you can't stop till its all gone!

If you do not eat beef, well, theres not too many things you can choose from on the menu... They have a scallop salad on the menu that is really good. The perfectly cooked scallops are well seasoned, and the Asian inspired dressing is interesting - it has a hint of ginger, sesame oil, and coffee?? I know it sounds weird, but it is actually quite good. Besides it is served on the side, so you can always leave it off. The salad is perfectly yummy without it.

The Refuge
(Clockwise From Top Right: Pastrami Sandwich,
Scallop Salad, Steak Parmesan Sandwich)

The Refuge is a very popular lunch destination, so go early! When we got there just past noon, there were a few empty tables, but by the time we got done, every table was occupied! In  fact, if you can go for lunch, and stay for happy hour, even better!

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - No

Thien Long - San Jose

Thien Long is one of many Vietnamese restaurants in San Jose.

What separates them from the others is primarily their Bun Cha Ca La Vong - fish that is delicately seasoned with Vietnamese curry powder, and served on a hot plate atop of a bed of dill and onions. The hot plate causes the dill to wilt, and gently season the fish.

For those of you not familiar with Vietnamese curry, it is much milder than its Asian cousins, and in my humble opinion, has a more balanced flavor profile. However, you judge for yourself. And, if that involves a curry taste off, better make sure I am invited!

Thien Long
Bun Cha Ca La Vong

This dish, meant to be shared by 2, comes with rice noodles, shrimp paste sauce, fish sauce, and in true Vietnamese style with a myriad of herbs and lettuce leaves. As is true of all Vietnamese food, this meal is offers a variety of flavors and textures making it an interesting meal from start to finish.

Not small eaters, we still had trouble finishing the dish, It is really better suited for 3 to 4 people.

If you are not into seafood, they have so many interesting things on the menu. I for one can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes, they all look amazing!

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - No

Ravioli House - San Mateo

"Get in Here" -- the sign at the entrance says it all.

Ravioli house in San Mateo is a popular lunch destination, serving a variety of sandwiches, and not surprisingly, ravioli. When we walked in past noon, the tiny restaurant was bustling, most of the tables were occupied, and there was a line of people waiting to place their orders.

They are popular for both their sandwiches and ravioli, and the selection of ravioli available for lunch changes often.

Our group got the Eggplant Ravioli (seasonal, and very unusual!), the Spicy Sausage Ravioli, the Mojo Sandwich, and an Egg Salad Sandwich. Everything was really good! If we had to make one complaint it would be that the egg salad was a little bland, it would be a whole lot more interesting if they actually chopped pickles and added it to the mix rather than just putting sliced pickes on the sandwich.


The Ravioli House
(Clockwise from Top Right: Mojo Sandwich,
Spicy Sausage Ravioli, Egg Salad Sandwich)

The ravioli was great too, we got ours with marinara but the also offer bolognese sauce. The ravioli is a huge serving, so we recommend getting one order of ravioli and perhaps a sandwich and sharing that with someone. If you really love ravioli, they even sell packages of fresh pasta to take home - from the traditional cheese or meat, to the more inspired eggplant, pumpkin, lobster etc. In fact, their marinara is pretty good, so get some of that to go as well!

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes  



China Village Seafood - Belmont

China Village Seafood is our go to place for a quick lunch. They have dim sum for lunch every day, but also have a selection of lunch specials.

The dim sum selection is really good, and makes it really easy to dash in and out after having eaten a much yummier meal that the other alternative -- fast food.

We love the Stuffed Eggplant and Mushrooms, the Braised Shortribs and the Lobster Noodle. To balance out the protein-carb fest, the Chinese Broccoli is a welcome change.

The Lobster Noodle is an absolute must do, I cannot stress that enough. Be sure to order that as soon as you sit down though, since it is needs time to prepare. If you are not noodle fan, the Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice is a great alternate.

China Village Seafood
(Clockwise from Top Right: Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce,
Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice, Chicken Feet, Braised Short Ribs)

Conveniently located off Ralston and 101, this place really does justice to Chinese food. They are superlative when you compare them to other Chinese places in the area. The restaurant space is huge, and they have ample parking in the back, so it is always a good place to go, whether lunch or dinner.

If you like dim sum, definitely add this place to your list.

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes  

Cocola - San Jose

Love dessert? Think chocolate should be its own food group?

The folks at Cocola are with you. Thankfully, so do bazillion other people! No matter what time of day, or day of the week, Cocola always seems to be crowded. Who knew sugar, butter, flour and some flavoring agents could be this addicitive!

For someone that doesn't really have a sweet tooth, I still seem to find myself here more often than is reasonable. It is especially fun to walk over here after a meal at one of the other restaurants, and get some coffee and dessert.

Cocola
Cakes, Cookies, Sandwiches,
Soups, Coffee and so much more

The mosaic bistro tables are placed optimally to maximize people watching, so whether you are sipping on a cup of jo, grabbing a quick lunch, or gorging yourself on the sweet treats, this is a fun place to meet friends, get your sugar fix, or just a quick bite to eat. Some of my personal favorites include the Rouge (Strawberry Cake), and the 3-Color Chocolate Mousse. 

If you have not already been here, go try it, and tell us what you think!

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes  

Haggis and Whisky House - Edinburgh

On conquering haggis, and enjoying whisky!

Haggis and Whisky House in Edinburgh does justice to their name, and has many other delicious things on their menu.

Haggis with Whisky Sauce

If your response to haggis is, "oooh, I don't know...", can't say I blame you. However, having recently tried haggis for the first time (thankfully I had completely forgotten the details of how it is prepared, got to love old age!), I have to say it was really good! It is well seasoned, and flavorfull, and paired with nips (turnips) and tatties (potatoes), and an incredible whisky sauce.

It truly is delicious! What's even more incredible is that almost every restaurant in Edinburgh also seems to have vegetarian haggis on the menu, also delicious. Perhaps because that is a lot easier for people to order...

Crispy Haddock and Chips

Ok, so maybe this just isnt for you.

You ARE in the United Kingdom, so how could you go wrong with fish and chips! Their fish and chips, served with mushy peas, are amazing! The batter is nice and crisp, and the fish is cooked perfectly.

 

Haloumi Burger

Yet another bonus is that the Haggis and Whisky house has many vegetarian dishes on their menu, from an incredible tomato soup, to a really yummy haloumi burger, and vegetarian haggis! So if you happen to be in the area, do go visit them.

The food was so good in fact, we ended up there for 2 meals!

Edinburgh’s Finest Sausages

What first drew us in, as walked by was the eclectic decor (and the wall of whisky). They have tables with brightly colored chairs, and also mosaic lounge chairs. In bright red. Believe it or not, they are actually comfortable! The interiors are well designed and have huge windows that light up the space and make it warm and inviting.

Whether you are here for a drink, or for food, you really cannot go wrong. So if you are ever in Edinburgh, and looking for place to eat, where the staff is friendly, and the food is great - be sure to stop in at the Haggis and Whisky House.

 

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Eclectic

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes  

Dave & Buster's - Milpitas

Gaming, food and drink - the holy trinity to many! Dave & Buster's (D&B for short) combines all three, and does it really well.With two bars, a restaurant, pool tables, video games, and much more. They have something for everyone.

Though gaming is probably the primary draw, it is also a great place to great place to unwind after a long work week and catch up with friends over some food and drinks. Surprisingly the menu goes beyond typical bar food. The pretzel dogs are a must have, and the mojitos are quite good too.

D&B is a place where you can relive your childhood. It is like going to Chuck-e-Cheese when you were a kid, except with alcohol!

D&B
(Clockwise from Top Right: Walk the Plank,
Queso, Mojito, and Pretzel Dogs)


Only restriction, you must be at least 21 to enter.

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes  

Myun Dong Tofu Cabin - San Mateo

Khim chee, some people love it, others can't stand it. We just happen to love it, what's not to love? Spicy, pungent, fermented cabbage, and all it's other friends!

Myun Dong Tofu Cabin (they have s location in Santa Clara as well) is one of our favorite lunch spots for Korean food.

This no fuss restaurant has many Korean staples, and vegetarian versions of those dishes made with vegetarian broth.

Our favorites include the seafood pancake, the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap, and the combination seafood sun do bu. Again many of these are available as vegetarian dishes too.

For those familiar with Korean food, you know that every meal comes complete with a bunch of small plates. These are meant for the table to share and range from khim chee, sesame noodles, pickled cucumbers, to preserved bean sprouts and potato salad. And what's better is that they bring you more as you finish what is in front of you!

We typically share our entrees family style, allowing everyone to enjoy the variety of flavors.

So go get your foodie group together and head to Myun Dong!

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes