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Antonella's Ristorante
$ [Italian, Pizza]
1701 Park Ave. (408) 279-4922
Pizza in the classic New York style: thin crust, tangy sauce, and lots of cheese. But there's more than freshly tossed pie at this Santa Clara-border bistro. Inexpensive but carefully prepared pastas and salads round out a menu of staples like fettuccine Alfredo, linguine and clams and, of course, spaghetti and meatballs. Make sure you don't fill up on the homemade focaccia bread, or else you'll miss out on the molten chocolate hazelnut cake and the homemade tiramisu. Believe us: you'll want both.
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Bertucelli's La Villa Deli
$ [Italian]
1319 Lincoln Ave. (408) 295-7851
The Bertucelli family's world-famous homemade ravioli have inspired such a cult following that rav lovers even have their own T-shirts with the slogan 'Got Ravs?' Daily hot specials spawn long lunchtime lines - but service is quick, friendly, and knowledgeable. Aside from deli meats and baked desserts, La Villa is packed with imported wines, snacks, and fine Italian condiments. Can't decide what you want? Order the 'Chris Combo' sandwich: a secret blend of Italian meats and spices, all on a delicious Italian roll.
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Creekside Inn
$$ [Classic American]
544 W. Alma Ave. (408) 289-9781
The kind of place where quality comfort food and karaoke cohabitate, the Creekside recalls the big-shouldered days at the height of classic American cuisine. A meat-and-potatoes menu pleases with favorites like lobster, sole, meatloaf, and rack of lamb, and while the décor can't be called cutting-edge, it wins points for coziness. Nick, the owner, promises the best steak in town. Karaoke (Wednesdays) comes with a free buffet - get there early.
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Fratello's
$$ [Italian]
1712 Meridian Ave. (408) 269-3801
Tucked in strip mall, with plenty of parking to go around, this well-loved neighborhood fixture impresses with a homey vibe, friendly service and straightforward Southern Italian fare served up with flair. Simple preparations and fresh ingredients rule, exemplified by the cozy restaurant's no lack of exceptional pasta and pizza dishes. Winners include Pizza Margherita with a nicely browned thin crust dressed with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella and shreds of basil and Linguine Pescatore topped with clams, mussels and prawns in a rich wine sauce.
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Grapevine Wine & Cheese Shop
$$$$ [European]
1389 Lincoln Ave., (408) 293-7574
Craving cabrales or grating for gouda? This friendly shop has a bevy of cow, goat, sheep and other kinds of cheeses, along with a host of wines from small, family-owned companies from all over the world. The perfect place to explore, the Grapevine offers daily wine tastings and pre-packaged cheese platters for any novice looking to expand their palate. Clubs like 'Nothin' but Red' offer handpicked selections of Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Primitivo and more with special discounts every month. And you can't beat the pricing on the store's exclusive very berry Kathryn Kennedy, Lateral 2003.
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Original Pancake House
$ [American, Breakfast]
2306 Almaden Rd., Ste. 150 (408) 979-0251
The San Jose OP sports a generous number of cushy booths, and service is casual but friendly. Serving up breakfast foods like waffles with whipped cream, kosher corned beef hash, crepes with bananas and sour cream, and just regular old bacon, eggs, and a two-stack. Pancakes dominate the menu - how to choose between the bacon, healthy wheat germ or potato pancakes? Get the Dutch Baby first - the apple-baked pancake takes 20 minutes and serves two.
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Vin Santo
$$$ [Italian, Modern American]
1346 Lincoln Ave. (408) 920-2508
This intimate space has a graceful, understated formality typical of Northern Italian style, but the nightly experience is more like a warm gathering of neighborhood friends and repeat customers. Owner/chef Umberto Pala keeps his Northern Italian cuisine invigorated with California freshness. His brodetto, a fish stew brimming with Chilean sea bass, calamari, prawns and diver scallops in a white wine and marinara sauce, is a hearty, savory delight.
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Willow Street Pizza
$ [Italian, Pizza]
1554 Saratoga Ave. (408) 871-0400; 1072 Willow St. (408) 971-7080
Friendly service, a convivial, neighborhood atmosphere, and fresh ingredients have made Willow Street Pizza a long-time local favorite. Their wonderful, wood-fired pizzas have a crispier edge than regular oven-baked pies, and their scrumptious pasta combinations (fettuccini with chicken, red bell peppers, red onions, and cilantro in a tequila-lime cream sauce) are creative palate-pleasers.
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