The Bay Area Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now
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If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy and Tock, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants …
This month, Team Resy and Tock indulged in sushi from Belmont to Berkeley, uncovered an incredible tasting menu experience in San Mateo, celebrated getting a marriage license at an Italian standby, and lost it over a butter course.
The older I get…
… and the less often I experience formal nights out, the more I appreciate singular dining experiences — those special places that just feel different, that have really evolved on their own path. So, of course, my first time at Lazy Bear was not only delicious and warm, but it felt smart and fun, too. I loved how there were Easter eggs and winks throughout the experience (show?). How you could ask questions and find rabbit holes, almost like choosing your own adventure. How you could notice David Barzelay’s woodworking if you knew where to look. How they recommended books to read (Moby Dick — “it’s actually funny!”). How the sourdough bread bowl finally made it to fine dining. How you could learn that it is, in fact, challenging to draw a lazy bear. Also … the butter course.
— Paolo Lucchesi, Resy Editorial Director
It’s a timeless classic…
… on Fourth Street in Berkeley. Iyasare’s my go-to for sushi rolls and okonomiyaki, but the standout on my last visit was the maitake tempura (if you’re with a larger group, definitely get two orders to share). And I love that they’ve maintained their curbside parklet to accommodate extra parties during their bustling lunch and dinner services.
Pro tip: Bundle up and dine on their heated patio in the winter months, so you may sit under the twinkly Fourth Street holiday lights.
— Kimia Azimi, Implementation Manager
After getting our marriage license…
… my fiancé and I were very lucky to dine at Acquerello. The rabbit mortadella-filled cappelletti and squash tartlet stracciatella were my two favorite dishes. They also came in at the end with a dessert cart that was incredible. Definitely opt for the wine pairing instead of paying for corkage (my rookie mistake).
— Michael Bellotti, Account Executive
Tucked inside a cozy Victorian home…
… in San Mateo, All Spice feels like a hidden gem. Their prix-fixe menu changes seasonally with the option to choose three, four, or five courses. My wife and I both went with the four-course option, which felt like the sweet spot — it gave us the chance to try more of the menu without feeling overly full. Everything is made with locally sourced ingredients, and honestly, every dish we had was excellent.
Some of the highlights were the achari chicken, the roasted chile-marinated black cod, and the matsutake mushroom risotto. For dessert, my wife had the saffron and cardamom butter cake, which she declared the best cake ever she’d ever had.
Overall, All Spice was a great find and an awesome choice for a special night out in San Mateo. If you’re looking for an elevated but relaxed dining experience on the Peninsula, this place is definitely worth checking out.
— Nick Kwan, Growth Marketing Manager
If you’re looking for sushi…
… Sushi Monster in Belmont is fantastic. Everything tasted super fresh. We ordered three kinds of rolls and some nigiri for the two of us and left full and happy. Our favorites were the Hawaiian roll (spicy tuna, cucumber, green onion, and tobiko, topped with even more tuna — incredible) and the ikura nigiri.
— CJ Babb, Senior Business Development Manager
Set up on a hill…
… Auberge du Soleil has one of the best views overlooking Napa Valley. We opted for their $125 three-course brunch and the duck confit hash was my favorite of the courses. It was a perfect way to kick start a day in Napa Valley, and I can’t wait to go back in the future.
— Tanner Nebbia, Financial Ops Director
Don’t skip…
… the sushi rolls from Kru. The 3 Alarm, Spicy B, and Sunshine rolls were definite standouts, especially the Spicy B, which impressed us with its perfectly seared tuna. We also tried the sashimi mix (the chef’s choice), which was fresh, clean, and full of flavor. Overall, a beautifully crafted meal with top-quality ingredients.
— Ashley Summers, Hospitality Manager & Associate Fraud Prevention Specialist
More Bay Area staff picks, right this way.
The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.
