Midrange
La Paloma
2280 el camino real at el camino and los padres in a bright yellow building 408 247-0990. m-th 11am-9:30pm, f-sa 11am-10pm, su 4pm-9pm. generous portions of mexican food at a moderate price. a smaller, family-owned restaurant with lively decor. live entertainment on friday and saturday nights may draw crowds. takeout is available, as is a weekday lunch buffet. parking may be tight at popular times, but nearby residential neighborhoods have plenty of on-street parking.
Yuki Sushi
1827 pruneridge ave in the cedar tree shopping center at the corner of pruneridge and winchester, 248-9144 fax 260-1988, (http://www.yukisushi.com/...). lunch: tu-fr 11:30am-2:00 pm, dinner: tu-sa 5pm-9:30 pm, su 5pm-9pm. closed mondays. a small restaurant with excellent sushi, yuki sushi also has specialty rolls with innovative combinations of western and japanese ingredients. vegetarian entrees, noodles, donburi and teishoku are also on the menu. the restaurant usually fills up fast. take-out is available.
California Noodle House
1460 halford averue one block south of el camino, one block west of lawerence expressway, in a strip mall across from the kohl's store, 408 244-9721. (http://noodlehouse.com/). m-su 10am-9pm. good and affordable noodle soups, served in large bowls with different types of meats. other dishes as well, including iced coffees and teas.
Athena Grill
1505 space park dr near san tomas and scott 408 567-9144â. not open weekends. delicious, authentic greek food well worth the trip into what is mainly a business and industrial district. main dishes come with salads, pita slices, bread, and dips. if you still have room for dessert after their generous portions, try the galaktoboureko, a custard dessert topped with phyllo and syrup.
Stan's Donuts
2628 homestead rd in the strip mall at the end opposite the safeway, across from the library and central park. real donuts, hot and freshly made the old-fashioned way. founded by local resident stanford wittmayer in 1959, stan's is still family-owned. stan's is popular with local residents, so it can be crowded in the mornings.
Pizz'a Chicago
1576 halford ave at el camino, behind the much more visible fish market offers thick, rich chicago-style pizza.
Gaesung Tofu
2089 el camino real at the corner of el camino real and scott, in the strip mall behind the union 76 station, 248-8638. among the dozen or so korean restaurants in santa clara, gaesung is one of the best. their specialty is the tofu based hot-pot stews of korea. the restaurant is not entirely vegetarian, but does offer vegetarian dishes.
Area restaurants feature foods from cultures all over the world, reflecting the area's diversity. There is no need to eat in the same restaurant, or even the same kind of restaurant, twice.
shopping centers
With a supermarket, cafes and specialty stores located along a pedestrian-friendly main street at the south border of the community. Rivermark Village is a 136,000 sq. ft. premier neighborhood shopping center. It features a 65,000 sq. ft. new generation Safeway super market. Restaurants include: Yan Can, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Jamba Juice, Quizno's, Red Robin, Baja Fresh, Prolific Oven, Premier Pizza, and many other shops.
Parcel 104
2700 mission college blvd. at the santa clara marriott, phone: 408 970-6104, (http://www.parcel104.com). one of the best restaurants in the south bay is hidden at the ground floor of the santa clara marriott, just off the great america parkway at highway 101. the cuisine is a sophisticated example of california cuisine light dishes, good fish, flavorful fruits and fresh vegetables, combined with asian influences such as japanese ingredients. excellent wines and desserts too. prepare to spend and enjoy.