Mio Vicino

Two decades after Mio Vicino cooked up its first plate of clam-dappled linguine, many of its original chefs still remain steadfast in the kitchen, mincing garlic, sculpting meatballs, and ribboning strands of housemade pasta. These culinary wizards have since refined their California-inspired italian pasta and pizza, earning recognition from CBS San Francisco for being a top South Bay pizza venue. Their kitchen abounds with energy and savory aromas as pans simmer with creamy sauces and ovens glow with artisanal meat and seafood.

In the dining room, surrounded by sun-yellow walls and exposed brick, parties dip crispy italian bread into pools of oil and freshly roasted garlic resting upon green-checkered tabletops. Light pours in through lofty windows and glimmers off glasses of fine wine and bottles of beer. The restaurant's private banquet room, meanwhile, boasts elegant chandeliers and a flat-screen television, making it an ideal venue for corporate lunches or exclusive screenings of the first 10 seasons of Dallas.