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Eat it: Restaurants
The Best of Mountain View 2011

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Breakfast
Perhaps a treasured item on Hobee's menu says it all: the Best Darn Breakfast In Town. At all three Hobee's locations, the BDBIT comes with two eggs, served your way; "Country Style" hashbrowns; and toast or the blueberry coffeecake that has fans willing to wait in line.
2312 Central Expressway, Mountain View, 650-968-6050.
#67 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto; 650-327-4111.; 4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-856-6124.


Chinese Restaurant
Chef Chu's is a longtime local favorite, serving quality Chinese food at prices that won't break the bank. Meat and seafood lovers will rejoice in the selection of specialty dishes such as Peking duck, rack of lamb and clam soup, but vegetarians will find a festival of dishes to enjoy, including tofu and noodle dishes, and even "vegetarian goose." 1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos; 948-2696.

COFFEE HOUSE
This year's winner Red Rock Coffee on Castro, really rocks. The popular caffeine stop features live music and an open-mic night on Mondays. Besides brewing a great cup of joe, its community-oriented focus is a draws people in. The cafe showcases local art and hosts book clubs and three different knitting groups.
201 Castro St., Mountain View; 967-4473

FINE DINING
Oye como va Cascal is clearly one of Mountain View's favorite restaurants, winning in four categories this year: readers ranked it as the best for fine dining, the best patio, the best place to have a business lunch and the best happy hour in town. With Spanish hospitality and Latin flavor, Cascal caters to most dining desires. A wide variety of tapas is paired with an extensive wine list and "sexy" cocktails in a vibrant setting, with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
400 Castro St., Mountain View; 940-9500

FUSION
Bright neon signs, cutting-edge design, and new spins on classic Vietnamese recipes, Xahn is too hip to be square. Thanks to Chef Thuy Pham's direction, Xahn caters to Mountain View's clientele with a variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Also open for buffet lunch, the restaurant offers family-style dining during the day and exciting, nightlife after the sun goes down. Xahn also won for best Vietnamese restaurant.
110 Castro St., Mountain View; 964-1888

Indian Restaurant
Excellent Indian food means an array of tantalizing colors, spices and textures, from hot and spicy to rich and creamy, and Mountain View's Amber India is no exception, offering a range of tikas, curries, biryanis and more, enhanced with such flavors as chilies, saffron and rose water. Amber's cuisine leaves taste buds singing, dancing and cheering for an encore. 2290 El Camino Real, #9, Mountain View; 968-7511.

ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Frankie, Johnnie and Luigi's does home-style Italian food, and does it well. In addition to traditional pastas and garlic bread, there's a wide selection of pizzas and wine. The restaurant now serves brunch on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends, it's also perfect for post-concert hunger pangs.
939 El Camino Real, Mountain View; 967-5384

MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
Offering traditional Turkish food since 2005, Cafe Baklava wins best Mediterranean as well as best Middle Eastern cuisine once again. With many traditional Mediterranean/Middle Eastern classics like doner kebap and moussaka, Cafe Baklava embodies authenticity, right down to the Turkish beer and hookahs.; it's no wonder Cafe Baklava keeps 'em coming back for more.
341 Castro St., Mountain View; 969-3835

MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Known throughout Mountain View for its authentic Mexican cuisine, Fiesta del Mar takes the prize for more than 12 consecutive years. Enjoy unique Mexican camarones (shrimp) dishes and a menu of 200 tequilas. Its margaritas are said to be unsurpassed and might have you searching for your lost shaker of salt. Online take-out ordering is also available through the restaurant's website.
1005 N Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View; 965-9354

NEW RESTAURANT
Open since New Year's Eve, Scratch is a classic American restaurant with a big menu and reasonable prices. During happy hour, try some American wine and snack on some oysters and fries, pizza with duck or crab cakes on salad. This is a place where "fine dining meets American comfort cuisine."
401 Castro St, Mountain View; 237-3132


SEAFOOD
Customers stop by the Cantankerous Fish for its selection of fresh calamari, mahi mahi and more, but also notable is the restaurant's happy hour deals. Drop in Monday to Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. to try the bar menu, which includes sliders, nachos and tempura for $5 per item, as well as drinks, beers on tap and house wines for only $3.
420 Castro St., Mountain View; 966-8124

SUSHI/JAPANESE
Sushi Tomi is known for its fresh fish and wide variety of very traditional sushi. The restaurant has become popular over the years through word of mouth, like an indie band that hit the big time. Though there is often a wait during busy hours, the Japanese delicacies will have you saying "Domo Origato." The restaurant is now also open for lunch on weekends.
635 W. Dana St., Mountain View; 968-3227

THAI RESTAURANT
For a full decade, Amarin Thai has taken top prize among readers. With over 80 dishes, Amarin provides high quality Thai favorites while managing to stay affordable. Try the forest curry in the seafood hot pot for an authentic Thai cuisine experience that's hot hot hot.
174-176 Castro St., Mountain View; 988-9323

VEGETARIAN
Once more, with feeling -- Garden Fresh is Mountain View's favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant. It is a place where vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike can enjoy a healthy lunch or dinner. Each entree comes with brown rice (a healthier alternative to traditional white rice), and meat substitutes like tofu and soy. Who said healthy couldn't be delicious?
1245 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View; 254-1688

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