Find quarterly pay-what-you-can dinners, open mic nights and more at this South Coast spot
“Nonprofit” and “restaurant” aren’t words typically used together, but Loma Mar’s only store and restaurant has recently converted to be just that. A census-designated place in San Mateo County located between Pescadero and La Honda, Loma Mar’s rural nature means the community relies on self-sufficiency, a facet integral to the decision to transition the former for-profit Loma Mar Store & Kitchen to the nonprofit Loma Mar Outpost.
This week, Six Fifty editor Julia Brown talked with the former owners of Loma Mar Store & Kitchen and the executive director of the new Loma Mar Outpost to learn about the factors contributing to the transition and how the business will function differently moving forward.
Meanwhile, I set my sights on Mountain View, where there’s a new North Indian restaurant open as late as 2:30 a.m. and a matcha cafe expected to open next month.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
A historic restaurant in the redwoods has a new chapter as a nonprofit
A longtime gathering place for locals, campers and car enthusiasts, Loma Mar Store & Kitchen has a new name and a deepened mission to nourish the rural South Coast.
A late night Indian eatery opens, a matcha cafe is coming to Mountain View and a fire temporarily closes a French bakery
- Craving Indian cuisine so late into the night it’s technically morning? Tandoori Junction recently opened in downtown Mountain View, serving chole bhature and other North Indian favorites.
- Nabi Cat Cafe in Santa Clara will open March 18, according to a recent Instagram post.
- Matcha cafe Junbi will open its latest outpost in Mountain View in mid-April.
- Donato Enoteca in Redwood City has been listed as one of Gambero Rosso’s top Italian restaurants in its “International Guide.”
- Downtown Mountain View’s Maison Alyzee is temporarily closed after a fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages on Monday.
- Embarcadero Media blogger Laura Stec offers food and drink recommendations for a day in Healdsburg.
- Backyard Brew in Palo Alto underwent a temporary closure after city building inspectors found permit violations.
- Haidilao Hot Pot Cupertino temporarily closed March 3 to begin a four-month renovation, according to a recent Instagram post.
- The owner of Ramona Post is suing the city of Palo Alto over allegations that Coupa Cafe’s parklet has negatively impacted her revenue and building value.
- Spring Ahead, a benefit gala and auction for The HEAL Project, will be held March 18 at Pasta Moon. This ticketed event includes a multicourse dinner created by six Coastside chefs.
- Through March 30, Eataly in Santa Clara is hosting its annual Restaurant Fest, offering discounted specials, pizza and pasta parties, weekly workshops and more.
Ceviche Nikkei at La Costanera
I have a new favorite Peruvian restaurant along the Peninsula, and I truly can’t believe I hadn’t tried it earlier. La Costanera in Half Moon Bay has been around since 2009, receiving a Michelin star in 2012 and 2013 and relocating to its current waterfront location in 2021. It’s currently a Michelin recommended restaurant.
The standout dish of the night was the ceviche Nikkei ($27), which is saying a lot considering I’m not a big seafood fan. Made with sushi-grade ahi tuna, Nikkei leche de tigre (soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, rocoto pisco and sesame oil), red onions, green apples and a crispy wonton chip, this dish hit on every flavor note – sweet, tangy, bright and spicy with contrasting textures from the soft tuna and crunchy apple. I’ve had ceviche Nikkei at many Peruvian restaurants, but none has balanced the flavors and textures as perfectly as La Costanera. I can’t think of a single critique for this dish, except to make the portion bigger because it’s that good.
In addition to the ceviche, my cocktail and dessert were also sublime. The Honey Moon Bay ($17), made with chamomile-infused gin, elderflower liqueur, pineapple, honey and lime, was herbal, sweet and complex, and tasted unlike any cocktail I’ve had before.
The suspiro a la limena ($14), a Peruvian caramel pudding traditionally topped with Port meringue, was delightfully decadent. La Costanera’s twist on this classic dessert replaced the Port meringue with Pisco whipped cream, and the pudding itself had a rich, molasses-like flavor that reminded me of gingerbread.
I also applaud La Costanera for creating a section on the menu dedicated to vegetarian diners, who can have a hard time finding something to eat at a Peruvian restaurant. When making a reservation, I recommend requesting a table overlooking the water, as I was seated with a view of the highway, which didn’t make for the best ambiance.
La Costanera, 260 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay; 650-728-1600, Instagram: @lacostanerarestaurant. Open Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-9 p.m., Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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