By Heather Tran and Anjali Nayak
The iconic one stop for food and shopping, Santana Row is home to many delicious restaurants. As a Santana Row employee, I, Heather Tran am no stranger to the amazing food selection and even better service. Anjali Nayak is also along for the ride as a casual food enjoyer. Here are our top picks from The Row:
1. Straits
This restaurant located near the center of the Row features a lively bar area as well as a more mellow atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating. The dim lighting creates a cozy environment. The asian-fusion menu introduces a wide variety of delicious foods. Highlights of our meal were the garlic noodles and Hainan chicken. The garlic noodles were the perfect texture, and, the classic Singaporian dish, Hainan chicken was moist and tender. The service is great, however the biggest downside, like most restaurants on the Row is the price tag attached. Straits is pretty expensive for a casual night out for two (broke) highschoolers, so although number one on our list, it may not be the best choice just because it is so expensive.
2. Meso Modern Mediterranean
Meso has it all. The price you are paying for the food is a steal by SR standards. Great ambiance with a cohesive color scheme and a featured water fountain. As a current employee I can personally attest to fantastic service. Must-tries are definitely the harissa potatoes and the kale cesar. The potatoes are the perfect mix of tender and crispy with the most amazing aioli. Although salads aren’t usually our thing, the kale cesar was a great order.
3. Pizza Antica
A great place to get great pizza. That’s enough said with classics like the Margarita pizza and unique Heirloom Potato Pizza, they have the best pizza on the Row. We also got their Handmade Potato Ricotta Gnocchi which was a great mix of creamy and fresh. While their service is lacking in some regards, our server was timely. The overall ambiance is great, with the indoor seating having a modern black and white theme.
4. Poke Bar
While not a traditional sit down restaurant Poke Bar is a counter-style ordering nestled next to Maggiano’s off Olin Ave. The menu offers a wide variety of mix and match options with great poke. The counter style allows for an endless number of combinations. The portions are pretty good for the price you’re paying.
5. EMC Seafood & Raw Bar
This seafood centered restaurant features a wide array of fresh seafood. The salmon carpaccio is one of the best carpaccios I’ve tried in the South Bay. The sauce was spectacular and the fish was perfectly done. The lobster roll leaves a lot to be desired. As a self-proclaimed lobster roll aficionado I have tried different rolls up and down the California coast, and this one is not one to write home about. Everything else about EMC was great from the speedy service to the enjoyable outdoor eating area.
