South Bay: Aptos, Campbell, Capitola, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Pescadero, Santa Cruz
Pino Alto Restaurant - Aptos
Monday–Wednesday Lunch 12:00pm-1:30pm
Wednesday–Friday Dinner & Terrace 5:30pm-8:30pm
Location: 6500 Soquel Drive (Cabrillo College)
Why Go There? College culinary student run restaurant offers fine dining a la carte seasonal menu choices for lunch, dinner and eating on the terrace (from 5:00pm); historic Sesnon House setting
More Information: Pino Alto Restaurant
Tin Pot Creamery - Campbell, Los Altos, Palo Alto
Daily
Location: Campbell: 1875 South Bascom Avenue, #370, daily 11:00am-8:00pm (Fri-Sat until 10:00pm); Los Altos: 201 First Street, daily 12:00pm-9:00pm (Monday opens 2:00pm); Palo Alto: 855 El Camino Real #121, daily 11:00am-9:00pm
Why Go There? Small batch rich, French-style artisan ice cream, local and organic ingredient focus. Look for four barrel coffee with cocoa nib toffee, salted butterscotch, mixed berry sorbet; house baked cookies.
More Information: Tin Pot Creamery
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria - Capitola
Daily 6:30am-8:30pm
Location: 504 Bay Avenue
Why Go There? Busy, popular with locals casual eatery offers on-site/to-go traditional, hearty meal choices; line of made-on-site bakery goods. Biscotti has a following; bargain seekers look for day-old goods.
More Information: Gayle’s Bakery
Shadowbrook Restaurant - Capitola
Location: 1750 Wharf Road
Why Go There? Hillside setting, with windy short steep walking path or funicular ride from parking area; 1947 dining room built around a living redwood tree. Food is traditional, prices reflect "destination" setting, but can opt for a drink, light nibble in the rock room bar area (opens at 4:00pm, main dining room opens 5:00pm) to experience the unique setting.
More Information: Shadowbrook
Barbara's Fishtrap - Half Moon Bay
Daily 11:00am-4:00pm
Location: 281 Capistrano Road
Why Go There? Humble looking, no frills, nautical kitschy decor aside, don't miss the fresh Dungeness Crab sandwich, only available during Dungeness Crab season. Half Moon Bay Brewery is across the street, a good place to grab a craft beer if there is a wait at Barbara's Fishtrap (which there probably will be); cash only.
More Information: Barbara’s Fishtrap
Manresa Restaurant - Los Gatos
Nightly
Location: 320 Village Lane (historic area)
Why Go There? Special occasion, whole evening experience, Michelin three star rated multi-course tasting menu prix-fixe dinners inspire awe (worthy of cost, effort to book reservations). Manresa Bakery ( Los Gatos, Los Altos) offers house-milled grain breads, limited selection of baked treats daily (often sell out by early afternoon).
More Information: Manresa Restaurant + Manresa Bread
IFES Crab Cioppino Festival - Mountain View (not curator reviewed)
Seasonal, afternoon, evening seatings
Location: 432 Stierlin Road: IFES Hall
Why Go There? During Dungeness crab season, the Portuguese Society of Mountain View hosts annual fundraising cioppino dinners
More Information: Facebook
Harley Goat Farm - Pescadero
Friday-Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm
Location: 205 North Street
Why Go There? On-farm store carries variety of fresh, attractively packaged goat cheeses, sweets: cheesecake, truffles; frozen housemade ravioli; offers farm tours, popular limited seating seasonal multi-course prix fixe dinners, see website for reservation openings (bring own alcoholic beverages, no corkage fee)
More Information: Harley Farms
Chocolate Restaurant - Santa Cruz
Daily 11:30am-10:00pm (11:00pm Friday, Saturday)
Location: 1522 Pacific Avenue
Why Go There? Variety of rich hot chocolate drinks; chocolate mousse truffles; homemade savory dishes (a few made with chocolate: mole, chocolate barbecue sauce); occasional chocolate dinners, other special events
More Information: Chocolate Restaurant
Food Lounge - Santa Cruz
Monday-Saturday times/events vary (closed Sunday)
Location: 1001 Center Street
Why Go There? Event space for pop-up meals; classes; food market: locally produced, grown foods; community events; live music
More Information: Food Lounge
Mission Hill Creamery - Santa Cruz
Daily 8:00am-10:00pm
Location: 1101 B Pacific Avenue
Why Go There? Made with organic Straus Family cream, rotating small batch artisan ice cream flavors include salted caramel, Turkish coffee and refreshing fruit sorbets; house baked sweet treats; coffee drinks
More Information: Mission Hill Creamery
Mutari Chocolate Factory & Shop - Santa Cruz
Wednesday-Sunday 12:00pm-9:00pm
Location: 504 A Front Street
Why Go There? Bean-to-bar high end artisan chocolates made on-site: truffles, bars, drinking chocolate, a few baked treats include decadently rich brownies
More Information: Murari Chocolate
Pacific Cookie Company Factory - Santa Cruz
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
Location: 303 Potrero Street
Why Go There? Small retail area within factory offers variety of small and large cookies made with quality ingredients at discounted prices; look for dark chocolate, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip. Payment is honor system (cash).
More Information: Pacific Cookie Company (website is for the main store, regular prices)
Additional Resources
Farmers Market - Burlingame
Year-round weekly Sunday morning; May- October Thursday afternoon; Park Road/Burlingame Avenue
Farmers Markets - Half Moon Bay, Pacifica
Half Moon Bay Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm (starts April) at Shoreline Station; Pacifica Wednesday
Downtown Farmers Market - Los Altos
May-September, Thursday 4:00pm-8:00pm; Second Street
Abbott Square Market - Santa Cruz
Casual eateries include central California cheeses, small-batch ice cream, bakery/coffee shop, pizzeria, poke; evening music performances; 725 Front Street, Daily 7:00am-10:00pm (Friday-Saturday until midnight)
Farmers Markets - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets operates five markets: Felton, downtown Santa Cruz, Live Oak/Eastside Santa Cruz, westside Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley