Taking it to the Streets

Teslas line up outside of Chef Chu’s in Los Altos. A trunk pops open and a man in nitrile gloves and hospital mask deposits a shopping bag into the boot.

In downtown Campbell, Sushi Randy stands behind a table providing safe sashimi. Further down the highway, in Los Gatos, Bywater reinvented its offerings, and Flights provisioned no-contact grocery items and household essentials for drive-through pick-up in its logistically reengineered backlot.

Willow Glen’s Braise continues to surprise with an innovative and changing menu, and at The Table, there’s a single seat at the outdoor fireplace, but the rest of the bench is marked for social distancing.

In downtown San Jose, the new vegetarian/vegan Pizza Flora has been firing a steady stream of slices, with cans and bottles of craft beer to go.

Our hats are off the innovativeness, hard work, creativity and determination of our local restaurateurs to power through this crisis—and the patrons who support them. With no traffic on the roads, this is the perfect moment to try a restaurant on the other side of town. You can get practically anywhere in 20 minutes.

While researching this issue, we stopped by at Clarke’s in Mountain View for a flame-broiled burger, with fries and a shake. Sadly, the stand that traces its roots to 1945 announced its closing a few days later—after 75 years. A piece of the valley has left the house, never to return.

If you like a restaurant, support it now. The current crisis will change the way we dine out, both for better and for worse. Each one of us makes a difference. —Dan Pulcrano

St. John’s Bar & Grill
Sunnyvale
A South Bay tradition for more than 40 years, St. John’s, home of “the best burgers in Silicon Valley,” offers a 25 percent discount on all orders. Beef, veggie and turkey burgers, handmade fries and rings, all are still available while in stock. And now for the first time St. John’s is filling growlers from any of their 18 beer taps, including a little Elder you may have heard of.

Armadillo Willy’s
Multiple locations
The world’s only armor-plated mammal, the armadillo is a true shelter-in-place king. When threatened, the armadillo isolates. It avoids big gatherings, and can sleep 16-18 hours a day. At its South Bay locations, AW is giving a 10 percent discount on all orders. Most specials are canceled, and the menu has lost a few inches, but you can get to-go beers in a mason jar for $5. Enough of those and you too can sleep 16 to 18 hours a day.

Kumako Ramen
Japantown
For eight years in a row, readers in our yearly poll have voted Kumako Ramen the best ramen in San Jose. Luckily, those with a taste for the savory Japanese comfort dish can still get an authentic bowl of it to go. It may not be as cheap as a box of the supermarket variety, but with most dishes coming in under $15, Kumako is still an affordable and hearty option for those in need of some soup and noodles.

Piatti
Santa Clara
Italian food is all about family, and Piatti is highlighting this by offering family style meals to-go. $40 gets you pasta and salad for 4-5 people, and an extra $10 adds a bottle of the house red or white to go with it. In fact, the entire wine list is 50 percent off—and what better time than a de facto quarantine to enjoy an esteemed 2015 Bolgheri? If wine isn’t your thing, Piatti’s also offers two of their house cocktails for $12.

Smoking Pig
Fremont and San Jose
With two locations in San Jose and one in Fremont, the Smoking Pig is doing everything it can to keep the South Bay fed throughout the crisis. While lunch specials have been axed, Smoking Pig’s full menu is still available–from the spareribs to flaky southern fried catfish. Amazingly, all locations remain open seven days a week, 11am to 8pm on weekdays, and 11am to 9pm on the weekends.

Burger Pit
San Jose
It’s been 56 years since the Burger Pit took up residence at the corner of Blossom Hill and Kooser in Almaden, and many a family dinner, school graduation and little league year-end party has unfolded inside its walls. These days, the humble burgers-and-steaks diner is a throwback to the roadside restaurants of yore, but it’s the quality that’s brought people back for more than half a century. Now open at noon instead of 11, Burger Pit offers curbside delivery, and keeps all items on the menu (except the salad bar).

A Slice of New York
Sunnyvale and San Jose
Finding real, thin crust, NY-style pizza in the South Bay isn’t easy even when there isn’t a pandemic. Thankfully there is A Slice of New York, one of the South Bay’s few authentic, by-the-slice pie shops. Worker-owned since 2017, the progressive A Slice of New York has risen to our current occasion by working to establish a community meal program to feed local medical workers.

Sam’s BBQ
San Jose
Sam’s has fed generations of San Joseans, and they’re not letting a little pandemic stop them. A local favorite since opening in 1992, at Sam’s BBQ you can still get 14-hour smoked brisket, 16-hour smoked Carolina pulled pork, and of course those heavily-marinated, extra-meaty baby Back ribs, and now, in an effort to increase social distancing, you can get all of them delivered directly to your car (if you place a phone order).

Taqueria Tlaquepaque
San Jose
In Willow Glen, Taqueria Tlaquepaque has long been a neighborhood favorite. Thankfully those in and near the Glen can still get Tlaquepaque’s authentic burritos, tortas and steaks to-go. For those who’ve been missing some spice in their life lately, the heat off Tlaquepaque’s pyrotechnic camarrones a la diabla is the stuff of legends. Delivery through apps is available, but consider placing a phone order and picking up in person. It saves money and keeps the business local.

Adamson’s French Dip
Sunnyvale
Despite its European-sounding name, the French Dip is as Californian as orange sauce and G-funk, its roots tracing back to two downtown LA eateries. While you might not be able to sit out on Adamson’s charming little patio until at least May, you can still enjoy this classic California sandwich (or a variety of other tasty options) from the comfort of your own home, car or other socially-isolated location.

Clandestine Brewing
San Jose
In normal circumstances, Clandestine Brewing only fills growlers with select brews, and rarely do they include the higher alcohol fare. But heavy times call for heavy fermentation. Now, in a brewery first, Clandestine customers can get growlers (err, “crowlers”) filled with any of Clandestine’s beers, including the 9.3 percent ABV Lucifer’s Casket, and the chesthair-inducing 9.7% ABV Smokescreen Smoked Baltic Porter Lager–as long as supplies last. Order online then call when you’re out front, and Clandestine staff will even load it into your trunk for you. Just wait until you’re home to crack one open.

Teske’s Germania
San Jose
While everyone else trims down and standardizes their menus for the pandemic, Teske’s Germania is making sure those in the South Bay with a hankering for old world German fare still have a healthy variety to choose from. Posting daily menus on their Facebook page, Teske’s continues to offer traditional German food to-go, including popular dishes like the homemade fried chicken (Friday and Saturdays only). Open Tuesday through Saturday, 4 to 8:30pm.

Pezzella’s
Sunnyvale
Pezzella’s Villa Napoli does its best to keep a stiff upper lip and remain unfazed by these tumultuous times. Still offering its full menu, Pezzella’s remains an excellent choice for authentic Italian pastas and casseroles, veal marsala and scallopini, seafood, pizzas and soups. The only difference under the shelter-in-place order is the hours. Pezzella’s now takes to-go orders from 11-8 Tuesday through Friday, and 4-8 on Saturday. Don’t forget to order a bottle of wine or beer to go with dinner.

Amato’s Cheesesteak
San Jose
Good news, Gritty fans. Even though all non-essential travel has been stopped, you can still get a real taste of Philadelphia at Amato’s Cheesesteaks. With two locations in San Jose, Amato’s is a trusted supplier of this indelicate East Coast delicacy. Sandwiches come in three sizes: shorty (7”), half (12”) and full (24”). Frills have never been this restaurant’s thing, and even in a pandemic that remains true (no new specials or menu changes to report) but if you want a hearty, melty cheesesteak, Amato’s has them in spades.

Crawdaddy
San Jose and Milpitas
Crawdaddy Restaurant serves up delicious shrimp, crawfish and crab by the bag. Patrons of Crawdaddy’s San Jose location can even order boba to go with their meal, using the state-of-the-art new boba tea machine the restaurant installed shortly before the whole world stopped. Now until the end of shelter-in-place, buy three pounds of shrimp or four pounds of crawfish and get a pound free. Don’t forget to grab a plastic bib or two when you pick up your order.

Mo’s The Breakfast + Burger Joint
Campbell
One of downtown Campbell’s most popular brunch joints is now serving up the perfect do-it-yourself breakfast for those aspiring home chefs looking to avoid jam packed grocery stores. The Big Breakfast Bag to Go runs $50 and comes with 8 sausages, potatoes, a dozen eggs, butter, cheese, eight slices of bacon, English muffins and more. If you’re looking to booze up brunch, you can add a Bloody Mary ($13) or Mo’mosa ($15) as well. Not in a DIY mood? Mo’s also offers curbside pickup and delivery for its regular menu.

Los Gatos Soda Works
Los Gatos
Stationed at the old Los Gatos Cigar Club, the contemporary cocktail bar offers its award winning libations to go. The selection varies by the day and includes drinks like A Man and His Mule—a mixture of Ketel One with green chartreuse and ginger beer—and Harvest Moon, which is made up of Old Forester rye, mulled spiced cider, pumpkin ale reduction, lemon and ginger soda. Cocktails are priced at $24 for a double and can be paired with a selection of small eats including a prosciutto and brie charcuterie plate. Cocktails are available at the Los Gatos bar, as well as at Sushi Confidential’s downtown Campbell location.

The Pastaria & Market
Los Gatos
The Pastaria & Market has been a Los Gatos staple since 1995, serving up pastas and freshly baked bread. The family-owned restaurant recently moved into its new digs on Santa Cruz Avenue and now operates on a limited eat-out menu that includes favorites like butternut squash ravioli ($19) and gnocchi salsiccia ($22). There’s also a selection of family style catering trays like angel hair marinara with meatballs ($84) and baked mostaccioli aurora with chicken ($84)

Dish Dash
Multiple locations
As Silicon Valley shelters in place, Dish Dash offers up its tasty Middle Eastern eats family style. From vegetable tagine to makloubeh to qidra, the large plates serve four to six people and run $150. Each order comes with freshly baked pita, pickles, olives, freshly baked baklava and a complimentary $50 gift card that’s redeemable after June 1. Meals are available via curbside pickup or contact-free delivery for an extra $20 charge.

Sorelle Italian Bistro
Campbell
Named after the Italian word for sisters, Sorelle Italian Bistro is one of the many local eateries making family dining a priority amid the pandemic. The restaurant has been preparing a new four-person special every night that ranges from $40 to $60. Over the last week, baked ziti, ravioli and chicken piccata have all been featured entrees. Only need dinner for two? Sorelle’s regular menu will be available to-go 5pm through 8pm daily.

Billy’s Boston Chowder House
Los Gatos
With travel out of the question, Billy’s Boston Chowder House is bringing a little bit of New England to the West Coast. Run by Boston-trained chef Bill Reynolds and restaurateur and avid-Red Sox fan Lance Wagner, the seafood joint offers both New England and Manhattan clam chowders, cioppino, po boys, fish and chips and more. Billy’s Boston Chowder House was closed for a short stint in March as it worked out the shelter-in-place order, but re-opened last weekend with a 10 percent discount for all take out and delivery orders.

Oak & Rye
Los Gatos
Oak & Rye may be known for its wood-oven fired pizzas, but the Los Gatos pizzeria dishes out all kinds of fare during the shelter-in-place. The weekly specials line-up includes a Taco Tuesday plate ($15), smoked-pork fried rice ($15) and chicken wings ($12). On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, diners can opt for the Smoke & Rye BBQ Meal Pack ($77), which serves three to four people and includes tri-tip or baby back ribs, collard greens, cole slaw, bbq beans and more. On Monday’s, essential workers can also pick up a free margherita pizza by showing a clock out stub from the previous week. Oak & Rye also has a selection of to-go cocktails on hand, ranging from $11 to $15.

Zareen’s
Palo Alto and Mountain View
Zareen Khan left her job in corporate American to bring her Pakistani and Indian roots to the South Bay restaurant scene. Zareen’s will spice up your shelter-in-place with its traditional dishes like chicken tikka masala or its not-so-traditional dishes like the tandoori burger. The restaurant is also taking donations via its GoFundMe page to help serve free weekly meals to healthcare professionals at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Yolked Extreme Breakfast
Morgan Hill
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Yolked in Morgan Hill has taken the traditional fare to the max from Chicken ‘n Waffles to Shrimp ‘n Grits. The family-owned restaurant is open seven days a week and serves breakfast well into the afternoon. Don’t forget to pick up some of Yolked’s mini donuts while you’re at it, as the restaurant calls its automated mini donut machine its “claim to fame.” The bite-sized treats run $6 for a dozen or 20 for $9.