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It’s summer and I know I keep writing to GET OUT THERE but we all know summer goes by WAY too fast. This week may we suggest putting pedal to plate? Bike to Bite anyone?
Local Destination: American Bistro
Recently, my friend E. led an adventure from Los Altos to the Mountain View Baylands, all by bike trail. Our goal was happy hour, sunset and a little exercise. We headed to Shoreline at Mountain View after hearing the restaurant was open late on weekends.
It’s a beautiful ride, pretty much car-free; tree-covered trails, over and under the highway, and along the sunny open space of the Bay. Felt a little underground and free actually. Took about 40 minutes one way.
I hadn’t been to Shoreline Lake in years – a 50-acre people-powered water wonderland. Quite the happening scene without me though. Rent anything but a power motor: sailboat, paddle board, wind surfer, wind foil and row or peddle boats. BYOB (bring your own boat for a fee), or take lessons from certified instructors. It seemed like a tight run ship. Well oiled and loved community space.
I had no expectation American Bistro would serve anything but fried foods and burgers, and pleasantly surprised to find much more. What’s this… Blue Lake Bean Salad with lemon olive oil and crisp fennel? Fennel at a lake snack bar? Impressive! The menu was packed with unanticipated vegetables, fair portion sizes and good prices.
We mixed a number of the veggie sides with some skewers, Yakitori and Tandoori, both perfectly grilled, including an ample side of fresh veggies on the side.
Hats off to Chef Gavin for taking delicious risks on his menu. Make sure to put this destination on your Summer Fun List. Whether you enjoy the water sports or prefer staying dry on the 10+ miles of pretty flat paved and dirt trails, it’s a family-friendly hangout and high-vibe bike destination. Maybe time your trip with sunset?
City Destination: Outer Sunset and Fifty Vara
When you’re ready for City fun, consider biking to bite around the Outer Sunset in San Francisco.
With easy access from the Peninsula, park on Lincoln or in Golden Gate Park and head for Sunset Dunes, San Francisco’s newest park. Made permanent after covid, you can now bike, walk, shimmy and shake your groove thing along Great Highway and beach front property for a whole 2 miles. Enjoy gorgeous street murals and interactive art projects like Ocean Calling. With much more planned, including a skate area, make sure to keep in the know about this dynamic and changing open space.
After an hour or so bike through the park and youthful neighborhood filled with surf stores, trendy bars (try White Cap) and cute coffee shops (Java Beach Cafe, Outerlands), settle in for lunch or dinner at the lively Fifty Vara. Opened in March 2025, it’s one of my favorite new SF eateries. Housed in a former 1940s brew‑pub, enjoy a friendly multi-level space with lofty ceilings and a bright, plant-filled decor.
The menu offers tapa-style plates such as their unique one-bite Pick-up sticks (boquerón & sausage), seasonal toasts, and larger mains like Orecchiette with Pork Sugo. They offer lots of dishes with interesting vegetables; the food was fresh and the seasoning delightfully complex. The bar offers rotating house‑brewed beers, as well as creative cocktails and a nice offering of non‑alcoholic option, what they call free spirits. The servers were fun.
The name comes from the “old measurement used to lay out San Francisco’s streets, 50 varas wide and 1,375 inches.” Interesting. This is a friendly and cool place – a modern look at the favorite neighborhood hangout.
Bike to bite Outer Sunset this summer.
Then report back on what treasures you find.
American Bistro: 3160 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View
Weekdays: 8 AM – 6 PM. Sat/Sun till 7:30 PM
Fifty Vara: 1735 Noriega St, San Francisco
Daily: 11:30 AM – 9 PM (varies – check website) Brunch on weekends
photos courtesy of LSIC
