Silicon Valley’s Best Deals on High-end Meals By The Wave Magazine, May07 issue

You can’t put a price tag on culinary bliss.  Good food brings great
joy at any cost, whether it’s the $100 melt-in-your-mouth Kobe rib-eye
at Alexander’s Steakhouse or the $4 Morton’s Power Hour petite filet
mignon sandwich. But let’s face it… we’re all looking for bargains. Who
can resist excellent eats that are also light on the wallet?

What follows is an easy-to-digest guide to some of Silicon Valley’s
best-priced meals and some drink specials thrown in for good measure –
a list of restaurants guaranteed to please your palate at a fraction of
the normal cost. While there are many cheap restaurants in the
$2-apiece-taco-al-pastor sense, for this menu we’ve listed higher-end
joints with value-packed deals: places that serve up ambience, as well
as low-priced sustenance.

From below-$20 prix fixes and bargain small plates to early bird
specials and half-priced happy hour goodness, here’s how you can eat
well and on the cheap. Enjoy.

Burlingame  
Straits Restaurant Burlingame  [Asian Fusion]
1100 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame (650) 373-7883
Daily,
11am-3pm: $12.95 3-course prix-fixe lunch featuring four options for
the first course, such as roti prata or poh pia spring rolls, four
choices for the second course including spicy basil chicken or beef
rendang, and fruit sorbet for dessert.

Campbell
Capers Eat & Drink  [American with Italian influence]
1710 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell (408) 374-5777
Monday
thru Friday, 2-6pm: Happy hour featuring bar appetizer menu ($4-$4.50),
$5.50 well drinks, draft beers, and house wines. Mondays &
Tuesdays, all day: 2-for-1 martinis

Kyoto Palace  [Japanese]
1875 S Bascom Ave.,Ste. 2500 Campbell (408) 377-6456
Sunday thru Thursday, 5-7 pm: Happy hour featuring half-priced sushi, $5 large beers, $5 sake.

Olio  [Mediterranean]
384 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell (408) 378-0335
Mondays
thru Thursdays, 5:30-7 pm: Happy hour featuring $5-$7
Mediterranean-inspired tapas such as Spanicopita and Arancini
Diriso-Italian rice balls. Wednesdays, 5:30-9pm: Flights of wine (3 to
5) at discounted price, plus small tastes of wine. Daily: $18-$26 Fish
specical

Cupertino
Blue Pheasant Lounge  [American, Continental]
22100 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino (408) 255-3300
Tuesday
thru Friday, 4-7pm: Happy hour featuring 25 percent off all appetizers
such as fried calamari, mozzarella artichoke dip and sautéed chicken,
and filet mignon, $3 well drinks and Cosmos, and $2.50 domestic beers.

Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
390 Capistrano Rd., Princeton-by-the-Sea (650) 728-2739
Tuesday, all day: $3 beers. Monday thru Thursday,11:30-4pm: $9 lunch specials

Los Altos
Beausejour  [French]
170 State St., Los Altos (650) 948-1382
Daily,
5-6:30 pm: Early bird dinner special at $16.75, 3-course prix-fixe menu
which includes a salad, main course (choose from seafood, poultry, pork
& pasta dishes), and dessert.

Los Gatos/Saratoga
Crimson Restaurant  [Modern American]
15466 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos (408) 358-0175
Tuesdays, 5-9pm: $25 3-course prix-fixe. Wednesdays: Half off any bottle of wine.
Thursdays: 2-for-1 15-hour ginger sesame braised beef short ribs over black rice & green beans.

Little Lou’s BBQ  [Barbecue]
15466 Los Gatos Blvd #111, Los Gatos (408) 356-5768
Wednesday
thru Friday, 4-9 pm: All-you-can-eat ribs for $9.95. Monday thru
Friday, 11 am-4 pm: Hungry Man Lunch featuring $5.95 quarter-chicken
with two sides, garlic bread, and soda.

Viva Los Gatos  [Modern American]
15970 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos (408) 356-4902
Daily,
3:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring $4 well drinks and house wine, $3
draft beer, $5 infusions and specialty drinks, and generously-portioned
appetizers ($4-$8) which include spicy rock shrimp, crab cakes, and
Viva burger.

Hong’s Gourmet  [Chinese]
14560 Big Basin Way, Saratoga (408) 867-2554
Monday
thru Friday, 11am-2:30pm: $6.95 lunch specials with a choice from 10
entrees, served with soup, assorted appetizers, and pork fried rice or
steamed rice.

La Fondue  [Fondue]
14510 Big Basin Way, Saratoga (408) 867-3332
Sunday thru Thursday, 10 pm: Chocolate fondue, $9 per person. First come, first serve.

Menlo Park/Woodside
The Duck Club  [American]
100 El Camino Real Menlo Park (650) 330-2790
Daily,
11:30 am to 2pm: 3-course prix-fixe lunch special $14.95, comes with
soup or salad and choose between 2 entrees & 2 desserts. Daily,
5:30-10pm: 3-course prix-fixe dinner special at $19.95; comes with soup
or salad, and choose between 2 entrees & 2 desserts.

Iberia  [Spanish]
1026 Alma St., Menlo Park (650) 325-8981
Daily,
All Day: Tapas ($2.85 to $4.85) including ham and onion croquettes,
dates stuffed with chorizo & wrapped with bacon, or lamb brazed
with tomatoes and peppers. Tapas are served only at the bar in the
evenings.

Oak City Bar & Grill  [American]
1029 El Camino Real Menlo Park (650) 321-6882
Monday
thru Friday, 11:30am-2pm: 3-course prix-fixe lunch menu (between
$12-$15) served with Yukon gold potato leek soup, mixed greens, dessert
and your choice of entrée.

The Village Pub
2967 Woodside Rd., Woodside (650) 851-9888
Monday
thru Friday, 11:30am-2pm: Seasonally changing $25 3-course prix-fixe
lunch menu, includes dishes like roasted squash soup, mortadella and
St. George cheddar sandwhich and Mascarpone “No Bake” Cheesecake.

Milpitas
Bleu Ginger Restaurant  [Asian Fusion]
90 S. Abel St.Milpitas (408) 719-9998
Monday thru Thursday, 5-7pm: Happy Hour featuring 2-for-1 cocktails

Sushi Mamoru  [Japanese, Sushi]
138 S. Main St. Milpitas (408) 946-5446
Monday thru Saturday, 11:30-2pm: Korean lunch buffet for $8.95 per person.

Mountain View
3TA Restaurant & Bar  [Asian Fusion]
156 Castro St.Mountain View (650) 988-1382
Monday
thru Friday, 4:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring $1 off premium beer, $2
well drinks, $2 Bud Light & Michelob Ultra, $2 Kamikazes &
Madres, $1 appetizer menu featuring shrimp spring rolls, wings, samosa,
crispy onion. $5 fried California rolls, Edamame, and garlic fries.

Cascal Restaurant  [Pan-Latin]
400 Castro St., Mountain View (650) 940-9500
Monday
thru Saturday, 3:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring half- off house
cocktails, $4-$7 bar snacks such as onion rings and fried almonds.

Chez TJ [French]
938 Villa St., Mountain View (650) 964-7466
Tuesday
thru Thursday, 5:30-9pm, Friday & Saturday, 5:30-9:30pm: Menu
Gastronomique $80 4-course prix-fixe meal; Chef’s Tasting Menu $110
featuring 12-course meal arranged for entire table

Palo Alto
Itapas [International small plates]
445 Emerson St., Palo Alto (650) 325-4400
Monday
thru Thursday, 5-7 pm, Friday & Saturday, 10pm-Midnight: Happy hour
featuring half-off well drinks and draft beer, and all items on bar
menu at $1.95.

Mantra Restaurant & Lounge  [Indian/Californian]
632 Emerson St. Palo Alto (650) 322-3500
Daily,
4:30-6:30pm, 9:30am-close: Happy hour featuring half off all lounge
menu items, $3 beers, $5 well drinks, and $3-$7 appetizers like petite
mix grill, vegetarian samosas or lamb lollipops.

Ming’s  [Chinese, dim sum]
1700 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto (650) 856-7700
Monday
thru Friday, 5-7 pm: Happy hour with complimentary chips and dip or
warm cheese with nachos. Monday thru Friday 11am-3pm: $11.25 lunch
specials, served with Ming’s chicken salad, hot and sour soup, and egg
fried rice.

Straits Café [Asian Fusion]
3295 El Camino RealPalo Alto (650) 494-7168
Monday
thru Friday, 11:30am-2:30pm: $18 Nasi Campur sample rice platter
includes a choice of four items from the menu, including spicy basil
chicken, green bean sambal, grilled salmon fillet, and lady fingers
sambal.

SUNDANCE THE STEAKHOUSE  [American]
1921 El Camino RealPalo Alto (650) 321-6798
Monday
thru Friday, 4-6pm: Martini hour featuring $7 premium martinis, $3.50
Napa Valley wines by the glass, $3.50 Jose Cuervo margaritas, $4.50 Sky
Vodka martinis, $4 premium well cocktails, $3.50 draft beers.

Tai Pan  [Chinese]
560 Waverly St., Palo Alto (650) 329-9168
Sunday
thru Thursday, 5:30-9:30pm, Friday & Saturday, 5:30-10pm: $39.99
per person (half lobster) or $49 per person (whole lobster) 6-course
prix-fixe Tai Pan signature dinner, $38 per person 6-course prix-fixe
(minimum of 2 persons) shark fin and abalone dinner.

Tamarine  [Asian Fusion]
546 University Ave. Palo Alto (650) 325-8500
Monday
thru Friday, 11:30am-2:30pm: $15 2-course Tamarine Power Lunch that
includes chef’s favorites like papaya salad, shrimp spring rolls,
ginger chicken and wok pho noodles.

Thaiphoon Restaurant  [Thai]
543 Emerson St., Palo Alto (650) 323-7700
Monday
thru Saturday, 11am-3pm: Lunch specials ranging from $7.50-$8.95
featuring entrees like stir-fried mango chicken and cashews, spicy lamb
and spinach, salmon green curry, and Thai lemon grass chicken.

Trader Vic’s  [Asian Fusion, Modern American]
4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (650) 849-9800
Monday
thru Friday, 4-6 pm: Happy hour featuring $5 Mai Tais, $5 house red
wine, $5 draft beers, $5 small pizza. Specials on appetizers change
weekly.

Redwood City
Old Port Lobster Shack  [Seafood]
851 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City (650) 366-2400
Monday
thru Thursday, 5-7 pm: Happy hour featuring $2 appetizers, $3 beers, $3
house red/white wine. Daily, all day: $13.75 lobster ravioli served
with lobster bisque, and $11.75 lobster mac and cheese.

Downtown San Jose
Azucar  [Latin American]
71 E San Fernando St. San Jose (408) 293-1121
Monday
thru Friday, 4-7 pm: Happy hour featuring 2-for-1 classic mojitos, $3
draft beers, $7 tapas menu that includes quesadillas, tostones,
calamari, ceviche, and queso frito.

Bella Mia  [Italian, Modern American]
58 S. First St., San Jose (408) 280-1993
Monday
thru Friday, 11:30am-4pm: Lunch Express Menu $7.95, choice of lasagna
(half) with garlic bread, tuna melt with club salad, or half reuben or
club salad with potato salad. Monday thru Friday, 2-5pm: Study Break,
personal pizza with one topping, fettuccini, and small salad only $4.95
with college ID.

Bold Knight Bistro  [Steakhouse]
840 N. First St., San Jose (408) 297-2170
Monday thru Thursday, 3-7 pm: Martini bar happy hour featuring half-off appetizers.

E&O Trading Company  [Asian Fusion]
96. S. First St., San Jose (408) 938-4100
Monday
thru Friday, 3-7 pm: Happy hour featuring $5 wine by the glass, $3 well
drinks, $4 bottled beers, $5 elixir drinks, $3 appetizers like
calamari, corn fritters, and satay skewers.

Emile’s Restaurant [French]
545 S. Second St., San Jose (408) 289-1960
Daily,
all day: $35 prix-fixe menu includes your choice of soup or salad, an
entrée, and dessert. Entrees to choose from include Grilled Lamb Chops
with pomegranate sauce and Potatoes Gratin Dauphinoise and fresh
vegetables.

Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge & Restaurant  [Modern American, Asian Fusion]
99 E. San Fernando St., San Jose (408) 274-9998
Tuesday thru Friday, 5-7 pm: Happy hour featuring $3 beers, $3 well drinks, and half-off specialty drinks.

Gordon Biersch  [American, Asian Fusion]
33 E. San Fernando St.,San Jose (408) 294-6785
Daily,
11:30am-4pm: Daily specials, priced from $8.25-$10.95. Changes weekly,
but some examples are tuna melt, a chicken parmesan sandwich or
Carnitas Quesadilla.

The Grill on the Alley  [American, Steakhouse]
172 S. Market St., San Jose (408) 294-2244
Monday-Friday,
5-7pm: Martini hour featuring $5 martinis made with the featured
premium vodka of the week and $4 appetizers like chicken pot pie,
popcorn shrimp, and tuna sashimi.

Hawg’s Seafood Bar  [Seafood]
150 S. Second St., San Jose (408) 287-9955
Tuesday
thru Friday, 3-5:30 pm: Happy hour featuring $3 beers, $3.50 well
drinks and house wines, $1 oysters on the half shell and $1.25 oyster
shooters.

Island Grill [Steakhouse, Seafood, Modern American]
1355 N. Fourth St., San Jose (408) 392-2468
Monday thru Friday, 4:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring $1 off well drinks, house wines, and domestic beers.

Loft Bar and Bistro  [Modern American]
90 S. Second St. San Jose (408) 291-0677
Monday
thru Friday, 3-6pm: Happy hour featuring $3.75 draft beers and house
red & white wine; $3.75 half-portions of selected appetizers like
calamari, steak bites, tomato mozzarella, Chinese chicken salad or
chicken wings.

The Melting Pot [Modern American]
72 S. First St., San Jose (408) 293-6020
Mondays,
5-10pm: Two signature martinis for the price of one. Tuesdays, 5-10pm:
No corkage fee. Wednesdays, 5-10pm: Complimentary chocolate fondue with
purchase of fondue dinner for two.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant  [Seafood, Modern American]
170 S. Market St., San Jose (408) 283-7200
Monday
thru Thursday, 4:30-6:30pm and 9:30-11pm; Friday, 4:30-6:30pm,
10pm-midnight; Sunday 9-11pm: Happy hour with $1.95 bar food menu that
include shrimp quesadillas and the M&S burger and fries.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse  [Steakhouse]
177 Park Ave., San Jose (408) 947-7000
Monday
thru Friday, 5-6:30 pm, 9:30-11pm: Power Hour featuring $4 bar bites
like chicken goujonettes, jumbo lunch crab, spinach & artichoke
dip, petite filet mignon sandwiches; smaller bites including oysters on
the half shell ($1.50) or colossal shrimp cocktail ($2.50).

Rokko Japanese Cuisine  [Japanese, Sushi]
55 S. Market St.San Jose (408) 947-7778
Daily,
Dinner: Special bento box $11.75. Daily, Lunch: Changing lunch special
for $7.50. Monday thru Saturday, 5:30-7pm: Happy hour featuring $2
Kirin draft beer, $8 pitchers, and $2.50 California Rolls.

Scott’s Seafood  [Seafood]
185 Park Ave.,San Jose (408) 971-1700
Monday
thru Friday, 4-7pm: Happy hour featuring half-priced appetizers and $3
well drinks and draft beers. Thursdays, 4-7pm: $0.99 oysters

South First Billiards  [American]
420 S. First St., San Jose (408) 294-7800
Mondays, 4-10pm, Tuesdays thru Fridays, 4-7pm: Happy hour featuring half-off well drinks and selected appetizers.

Tandoori Oven  [Indian]
150 S. First St. #107, San Jose (408) 292-7222
Monday
thru Sunday, 4-6 pm: Happy hour featuring half-priced appetizers, beer,
and wine. Daily: Daily specials ranging from $8-$12.

Tied House Brewery  [American]
65 N. San Pedro St., San Jose (408) 295-2739
Daily,
All Day: $17 salmon special, Monday thru Friday, 4-6pm: Happy hour
featuring $2.75 beer pints and half- off select appetizers.

San Jose
Antonella’s Ristorante  [Italian, Pizza]
1701 Park Ave.San Jose (408) 279-4922
Sunday
thru Thursday, all day: $19.99 to-go pizza special, includes
two-topping large pizza, ravioli for two, Caesar salad for two, and
focaccia bread.

Blowfish Sushi  [Japanese, Sushi, Asian Fusion]
355 Santana Row #1010, San Jose (408) 345-3848
Monday
thru Friday 5-7pm: Happy hour, $5 specialty sake cocktails, $5
California & dynamite rolls or build your own maki sushi for $5
(choose your own fish, veggie, and sauce). Free edamame in lounge with
an order of drinks or food.

The Fish Market  [Seafood]
1007 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose (408) 269-3474
Monday
thru Friday, 3:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring $2.75 bottled beers,
$3.50 draft beers, $2.95 house chardonnay, $3.25 house cabernet &
well drinks, $4.25 special martinis (Cosmos, lemon drops, and
appletinis), 75-cent oysters on the half shell, and appetizers (from
$2.95-$4.95) like fish tacos, calamari, fire balls, cheesy spinach dip,
coconut prawns, and chips & salsa.

Habana Cuba Restaurant  [Cuban]
238 Race St., San Jose (408) 998-2822
Tuesday
thru Friday, lunch: Cuban sandwich made with fresh Cuban bread, pressed
with ham and slow roasted pork, cheese, pickles and mustard. Comes with
sweet plantain and a super salad, all for $9.

Hukilau  [Hawaiian]
230 Jackson St., San Jose (408) 279-4888
Tiki
Thursdays, 5pm-Midnight: Draft beers, specialty drinks, and appetizers
(except the ahi poke, taco poke, and pupu platter) are half-priced.

Left Bank Restaurant  [French]
377 Santana Row, Ste. 1100 San Jose (408) 984-3500
Monday
thru Friday, 3-6 pm: Happy hour featuring $3-$5 appetizers including
Accrat bora and Punaaulu prawns, $4-$5 drink specials including the
Bikini Martini, Left Bank Punch, Cabana Cocktail, and French Martini.

Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant  [Irish, American]
355 Santana Row Ste. 1060, San Jose (408) 247-1706
Monday
thru Thursday, 3:30-6:30pm: Happy hour featuring half-off appetizers
(ranging from $5-$7) like the bacon-wrapped Irish nachos, chicken
quesadillas, hot wings & banger sausages, $1 off pints of beer.
Daily: Lunch specials, ranging from $9-$12 including shrimp pasta,
salmon tacos, teriyaki grilled steak sandwich, and crispy chicken
sandwich.

SINO  [Chinese]
377 Santana Row, Ste. 1000, San Jose (408) 247-8880
Sunday, all day: $19.95 per person Dim Sum & Wine Flight; $29.95 per person Deluxe Dim Sum & Wine Flight

Spencer’s for Steaks and Chops  [American, Steakhouse]
2050 Gateway Pl., San Jose (408) 437-2170
Monday
thru Friday, 4-6pm: Happy hour featuring $3 domestic beers, $4 imported
beers, $1 off well drinks and wine by the glass. Specials on appetizers
like the seared rare ahi tuna, ranging from $4.95-$8.95.

Straits Restaurant [Asian Fusion]
333 Santana Row, Ste. 1100, San Jose (408) 246-6320
Daily,
11am-4pm: $18.95 three-course prix-fixe lunch special, includes choice
of Roti prata or Meung Cum Salad (spinach salad) for the first course,
choice of spicy basil chicken, rendang beef, wok fried vegetables for
the second course, and choice of pina colada sorbet or cardamom orange
crème brule for dessert.

Taiwan Restaurant  [Chinese]
1305 Lincoln Ave., San Jose (408) 289-8800
Monday
thru Saturday, 11:30am-3pm: Lunch specials (prices range from
$7.35-$8.55) with choice of an entrée such as garlic chicken, mu shu
pork, Szechuan tofu or vegetable shrimp; includes a bowl of soup, fried
wontons, rice, and chicken salad.

Tanglewood  [Classic American]
334 Santana RowSte. 1000, San Jose (408) 244-0464
Daily,
4-6pm & 10-11pm: Happy hour featuring half-priced wine by the
glass, beers, and specialty cocktails with complimentary bar snacks.

Vaquero’s Border chop House  [Steakhouse, American]
1010 El Paseo De Saratoga, San Jose (408) 871-1114
Tuesday thru Saturday 4:30-6pm: Happy hour featuring 2-for-1 martinis.

Santa Clara
Birk’s Restaurant  [Modern American, Steak]
3955 Freedom Cir., Santa Clara (408) 980-6400
Friday
thru Sunday, 5-7pm: Early dining menu featuring choice of Caesar salad,
mixed greens, New England clam chowder or soup of the day for starters,
slow smoked prime rib as entrée, and choice of dessert for $35.

Sunnyvale
Firehouse Grill & Brewery [Brewpub, American]
111 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale (408) 773-9500
Monday
thru Friday, 3-6pm: Happy hour featuring half-priced bar appetizers
like nachos & buffalo wings, $3 beers, well drinks & house
wines.

Rokko Japanese Cuisine  [Japanese, Sushi]
190 S. Frances St. Sunnyvale (408) 732-7550
Monday thru Saturday, 5-7pm: Happy hour featuring $2 Kirin draft beers, $8 pitchers and $2.50 California rolls.

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The Wave Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 05.