Progressive Dinner - San Mateo/Burlingame

Plan:

• Drinks - Grape and Grain, San Mateo
• Dinner - Stella Alpina Osteria, Burlingame
• Dessert - Delizie, San Carlos

Goal: Drink + Entree + Dessert for $50 per person (or less)

We started at Grape & Grain in San Mateo on a laid back Sunday evening. Most people were braving the crowds at the mall, trying to get their holiday shopping done, we were chilling at this really neat bar. Bar doesnt sufficiently describe it though, it is part lounge, part bar, with loads of character. They have a great collection of beers, and wines, and the olive and cheese platter we ordered were the perfect complement to the drinks we ordered. Its an ideal hangout for drinks after work, or to grab a few drinks before dinner.

Our drinks order:
Stillwater  'Existent' Dark  Saison - Baltimore
Stone 'Cali-Belgique' Belgian Style IPA - San Diego
Handley Gewurztraminer - Andersen Valley, CA

On to Stella Alpina -- I was told their white truffle gnocchi was legendary. The gnocchi was everything I was told, and more. Yummy pillows stuffed with white truffles served with crispy sage in brown butter -- only thing I would have added is perhaps some parsley for freshness, but other than that the dish was perfect! The added bonus, it comes as an appetizer size portion allowing you to enjoy another dish for your entree. 


Stella Alpina
(Entrees - Clockwise from Top Left: Scottadito di Agnello,
Filetto alla "Monferrina", Fish Piccata, Roasted Heirloom
Tomato Risotto with Scallops
Bottom Row - L to R: White Truffle Gnocchi,
Apple Tart with Ice Cream, Creme Brulee)


Our entrees were fantastic too. From the fish, to the risotto and the meats, everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The only complaint was that the vegetables served with the meats could have been steamed better.

As you can see above, dinner was a bit of a production, so we decided to order dessert at the same place. We ordered the apple tart, creme brulee and an affogato. Personally, I am not a fan of apple pie, but this tart came out on a flaky crisp crust, with perfectly baked apples. The creme brulee was good too, the sugar caramelized to perfection. My personal favorite, the affogato, with caramel ice cream was an absolute treat. The espresso, was excellent and added a lot to the affogato.

Bottom Line:

Price - $$
Ambience - Classy

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes

Success Measure:

FAIL: Unfortunately, we were unable to keep to our goal of spending under $50 per person, in part because we ended up getting a few drinks. Lesson learned!

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  

Yard House - San Jose

When Yard House finally opened in Northern California, their Santana Row location was packed solid with beer lovers. With upto 250 beers on tap from all parts of the world, this place is the place to be for beer lovers. Their full bar has a great selection of wines, and cocktails as well, making this the perfect location for happy hour!

But it isn't just about drinks here at Yard house. What really sets them apart is that though they are best known for the number of beers they have on tap, they also have and extensive food menu.

The cuisine, American fusion, features appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, street tacos, burgers, and much more.  It is not just the usual greasy bar fare. They do food well, and offer something for everyone.

What is even more unusual is the number of vegetarian dishes on their menu. An entire section of the menu is dedicated to bar favorites made with Gardein, a vegetarian garden protein.

Yard House

Come for the beer, and stay for the food!

Bottom Line:
Price - $$
Ambience - Trendy
Vegetarian Friendly - Yes