Best Bites / DINNER
THE BIG MEAL
THE REGION’S DINING SCENE INCLUDES EXCITING NEW RESTAURANTS AND POPULAR STANDARDS—OFFERING
COSMOPOLITAN CUISINE TO PAIR WITH LIVERMORE VALLEY’S MANY FINE WINES.
THE CLASSICS
The Tri-Valley has its share of trusted favorites. Danville’s Faz and Bridges
Restaurant & Bar are perfect examples; these paragons provide elegant settings
and spacious patios. But classic doesn’t mean stuffy: Faz offers a Mediterranean
medley of house-made pastas, smoked and spit-roasted meats, and
fresh seafood. Bridges, which was featured as a location in the 1993 comedy
Mrs. Doubtfire, has maintained its buzz-worthy status by fine-tuning its
fresh California cuisine with Asian influences.
Pleasanton’s 1950s steakhouse Hap’s Original allows for dining in style
and comfort. While steak is most definitely the focus here, with the finest
dry-aged cuts of beef, the house-made sauces and dressings help elevate
already scrumptious dishes.
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WORLDLY WONDERS
Authenticity can be tasted in every bite at 11th
Tiger Thai Street Café in Danville. Offering a
blend of street food from various parts of Thailand,
the restaurant serves up an extensive yet
enticing menu of noodles, curries, small bites,
soups and more in an intimate space.
Get a taste of Jordan at Livermore’s Petra.
This family-owned eatery is excellent for
both those dipping their toes into Middle
Eastern cuisine for the first time and more
experienced eaters. The mansaf gets a special
recommendation, and complimentary
cardamom tea and pita shouldn’t be skimped
on either.
The family behind Pleasanton’s Korean
Village wants you to feel at home in their little
village. With congenial service and lovingly
cooked, authentic Korean meals like fish cake
ramen and soft tofu soup, you’ll likely find
they’ve achieved their goal.
Ultrafresh sushi and high-end Japanese
fare can be found at Amakara in Dublin,
where chef Eddy Imano takes as much pride
in his colorful presentations as he does in his
delicious rolls.
Cocina Hermanas’ spacious patio on Danville’s
bustling Hartz Avenue is an ideal spot
to sip a margarita while enjoying Mexican fare
spiced with Northern California influences.
Using traditional culinary techniques,
Cocina Hermanas serves popular street food—
think tacos, flautas and grilled corn on the
cob—and family-style dishes made from local,
sustainable ingredients.
The esteemed Restaurant at Wente
Vineyards was recently reimagined as the
more relaxed Vineyard Table and Tasting
Lounge. The refreshed menu features
shared plates that pair perfectly with the
award-winning Wente wines; diners can
also take in exquisite views along with
a selection of light snacks from the new
lower deck. The menu changes frequently
with an eye to seasonal, regional produce.
@APRILJWAGNER
